Mammane Sani
Sahel Sounds Mammane Sani et son orgue :
La Musique Electronique du Niger -LP- (NG,1978,re.2013)***°
Mammane previously was a UNESCO functionary, who in 1974, during a meeting came in contact with a Rwandan delegate and his Italian "Orlo" organ. He managed to persuade the delegate to sell it and came into possession of the first electronic instrument in Niger, soon starting to write interpretations of Niger folklore classics. In 1978, with the help from the ministry of culture he was able to release his sole album, which was recorded at the National Radio studios in just two takes, and which was published in an edition of just 100 tapes. He continued as one of the country’s leading composers for TV and Radio providing background tunes and drones, but his tape more or less disappeared into obscurity. Now, 30 years later, it has been rediscovered and reissued on LP (now already sold out, but it’s still available in digital format).
The music still is rather solo and more introvert compared to most African music: calm instrumental electronic pop music, which was inspired from certain African folklore elements. We hear the electrification of the nomadic drum of the tende, the idea from from the polyphonic ballads of the Woddaabe, and something of the pastoral hymns of the Sahelian herders, as the label describes its origins. Besides we also have a few personal instrumentals, like a love letter, such as "Salamatu".
At first hearing it sounded like tracks with very stretched improvisations in its minimal elements. But a closer listen reveals that Mammane has a good musical ear to the instrument, let it breath and pulsate in its steady rhythm, to allow the more emotional top layer of melody, without using anything that should not be there to contribute. He is capable of let the instrument work as pulsations, brings out the best of the limited space of the instrument. We hear slow African electro-pop, which is simple and repetitive but also really charming. Just the last track shows off something that working with this instrument could easily turn into something simplistic too, in general, it really works perfectly, as the rhythm of a turntable coming to live with several visions around it and coming forth from it.
