-
10.0
39421
10.0 |
Daily Telegraph
Each song finds its way into a supple groove and just bounces around there as though Amadou’s guitar strings and Mariam’s vocal chords were made of musical elastic
Read Review
-
8.0
39428
8.0 |
The Independent
The results demonstrate how adeptly Amadou & Mariam straddle both local and global, with a truly "world" music that deserves mainstream chart success
Read Review
-
8.0
39429
8.0 |
State
Despite some curious partnerships the end result is not as scattered as you might think. This is an Afro-blues record and the contributors merely add a sheen of their own sound to the recordings, which works wonders
Read Review
-
8.0
39559
8.0 |
Clash
Mostly filled with moments when listening to Madonna still feels like the most thrilling thing any pop fan could possibly hope to experience
Read Review
-
8.0
39709
8.0 |
Paste Magazine
Amadou & Mariam’s music is strong enough to stand on its own, and it’s a fair bet that people who start with Folila won’t stop listening until they’ve heard all of their albums
Read Review
-
7.4
39426
7.4 |
Pitchfork
A highly successful merger of the Malian duo's vision with the input of collaborators
Read Review
-
7.0
39427
7.0 |
DIY
In comparison to the cuts where Amadou & Mariam are left to their devices, the other collaborations either sound limp or they just grate
Read Review
-
7.0
40644
7.0 |
PopMatters
There is far more that is excellent than ordinary on Folila, and nothing at all that is less than interesting
Read Review
-
7.0
42433
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
The result is cultural exchange with ears pricked high
Read Review
-
7.0
39569
7.0 |
Slant Magazine
At times, Folila feels like Paul Simon's Graceland in reverse, a global gathering around a singular pair of voices, a project that speaks both to the increasing currency of African pop and the shrinking size of the world.
Read Review
-
7.0
39693
7.0 |
Drowned In Sound
If you are willing to be patient it offers more surprises than you’d expect, flourishing on repeated plays
Read Review
-
7.0
39477
7.0 |
musicOMH
With their eclectic cocktail of rock, pop, blues, jazz, soul, funk and traditional African music, these grandparents can still knock out an irresistible groove to match the best
Read Review
-
7.0
39506
7.0 |
AU Review
A soundtrack to a Malian odyssey; a sensuous, dusty road trip that weaves and wends its way around your soul
Read Review
-
7.0
39549
7.0 |
NME
It's their songwriting that brought Amadou and Mariam this far
Read Review
-
6.5
39423
6.5 |
BBC
A curious beast, a three-in-one project whose peculiar history has almost left it overburdened by a diverse array of guest collaborators
Read Review
-
6.0
39444
6.0 |
Mojo
The thick arrangements often suffocate Mariam's more delicate vocal contributions. Print edition only
-
6.0
39447
6.0 |
Uncut
Wooing a new audience comes at the price of the duo's lyrical charm. Print edition only
-
6.0
39473
6.0 |
The Observer
Mixes the inspired and mundane
Read Review
-
4.0
39445
4.0 |
Q
In accommodating all those guests Mariam too often has to take a back seat. Print edition only
-