Thrill Jockey Records are proud to present ‘Koïma’, the second full-length album by Malian songwriter and guitarist Sidi Touré.

Sidi’s music comes from Gao, a city in the north of Mali, and draws inspiration from traditional music and religion, but is informed by Western blues, rock, and culture. The winner of two Malian national awards for best singer, Sidi was leader of Gao’s regional orchestra, The Songhaï Stars, and is a nationally renowned figure in his home country.

In 2011, Sidi released ‘Sahel Folk’, his debut album for Thrill Jockey, and toured North America for the first time. This tour took him to prestigious venues and festivals, including New York\’s Lincoln Center, Chicago\’s Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Chicago World Music Festival.

‘Koïma’ is the natural progression from Sahel Folk, as Sidi has moved from an album of duets, recorded all in one take in his sister’s home in Gao, to a quintet recorded in a studio in Bamako. With ‘Koïma’, the intent was to record a different side of Songhaï music from the style captured on ‘Sahel Folk’.

LP version includes free download coupon.

“With a hypnotic mix of tangled guitars and warmly phrased vocals, the album carries the inviting, intimate warmth of a secret gently carried across continents” – The Los Angeles Times

“…a pleasant oasis for those who want to explore the desert traditions” – Uncut