Bassekou Kouyate amp Ngoni Ba's fourth album Ba Power is a striking, career defining record marked by mesmerizing songs, razorsharp riffs and fullthrottle emotions. Bassekou's band, Ngoni Ba, has turned up the volume and dynamics significantly and Bassekou's masterful ngoni playing has achieved a new level of intensity that can only be called: afrorock. Distortion and wah wah and propulsive rhythms are now the defining backbone of his songs and the heat lightning vocals of his wife Amy Sacko, more than ever serve as the passionate and perfect foil. This is not the same Ngoni Ba. This is indeed: Ba Power.br br "Powerful Afrorock from the Hendrix of the ngoni hellip Another dramatic leap forward and a further landmark in the integration of African tribal rhythms and western rockn'roll." 910 Uncutbr br "In Kouyate's hands, the little lute, with its skin made from the head of a cow, becomes every bit as thuggish as a distorted Les Paul." **** Mojobr br "One of African music's visionaries, investing his fourstringed ngoni with the grandeur of a rock guitar or the 21string kora hellip Ba Power finds Kouyate in full command, his chattering ngoni lines augmented by guest guitars, the e rhythms given a rock tinge by Robert Plant's drummer Dave Smith. Opener Siran Fen is a blast, Waati an intricate, funky workout, and Fama Magni has a John Lee Hooker swagger." **** The Observerbr br "A combination of powerful rhythms and spellbinding riffs, Ba Power promises to be one of the albums of the year." fRoots Playlist Album Choicebr br "Ba Power was recorded in short, raw sessions. It hits hard, yet ingrained in every track is the sense that Kouyate is letting loose of his previous restraints. This, is surely Ngoni Ba as he always wanted them to sound." The Quietus "A fine selection of thoughtful songs." **** The Guardianbr br "The songs sound like extracts from a music that began centuries ago and will never end." **** Financial Timesbr br "Siran Fen [is] a feast of ngoni spikes, rapid drums, and impassioned vocals from Amy Sacko." OkayAfrica "An impressive and expanded cast of musicians contribute to the vibrancy and power of the album hellip It's the sound of an artist who has achieved a level of mastery of his own instrument and rather than sit still has sought new directions to move in. It's a strong and pressing example of how musical elements from different geographical sources can be integrated successfully and portrayed in cohesive, striking style." **** musicOMHbr br "Ba Power is, without question, his most powerful and most confident album yet hellip Right from the opening strains of 'Siran Fen' with the ngoni riffing and furious percussive clicking bringing in a vocal chorus that almost seems exultant you feel the emotive release of the music." MusicNewsbr br "Singer Amy Sacko is as much the star of the show as Kouyate, imbuing strong melodies with a graceful confidence." **** The Listbr br "It's a record with traditional roots and instruments, but it manages to feel modern and current. The grooves are tight, the lute, guitar and percussion binding together, especially on frenetic tracks like Musow Fanga, Waati and opener Siran Fen. Te Duniya Laban might just be a standout, though, have a blissful, summery lilt to it." 910 Curious Animalbr br "Bassekou is himself on fine form, blazing through and ripping apart the ngoni rulebook as he takes the instrument to new heights of sophistication and energetic exuberance with his trio of nuanced practitioners hellip Ba Power strives to appeal to more universal themes and to finally establish Bassekou and his group as major players on not just the "world music" but also the music world stage." Monolith Cocktail