Anansy Cisse - Mali Overdrive

Anansy Ciss�'s souped-up guitar distortions re-work the West African Desert Blues genre with a new, agitated attitude. Featuring the soku fiddle playing of Zoumana Tereta and accompanied by ngoni, bass and calabash, Ciss�'s sound harnesses musical traditions and spits it out anew, taking us into 'Mali Overdrive'.

The story begins in late 2012, when Ciss� was forced to dismantle the recording studio he ran in Dir� following the invasion of Mali's northern regions by militant Islamists, many of whom are opposed to secular music-making. Forced to relocate further south, Anansy headed to the beating heart of Mali's capital city and is now resident blues bad-boy in Bamako.

In Bamako, Ciss� met Philippe Sanmiguel who became his percussionist and manager. Ciss� called on a few friends to add to the musical pot: esteemed ngoni player Djim� Sissoko laid down some riffs, Abdramane Tour� took to the bass and Mahalmadane Traor� found time to slap and smack his calabash. This album also features the mesmerizing soku fiddle playing of Zoumana Tereta, who has worked as producer, band leader and a sideman contributing his sound to many of Mali's most famous artists including Bassekou Kouyat�, Nahawa Doumbia, Oumou Sangare, and Toumani Diabate.