SET CD Review

Youssou N'Dour, 1990.

A powerful album - emotionally, musically, rhythmically.
And it all starts with the explosive title track (a crossover hit - European and African).

Hard to work out what the word "Set" actually means, but the song is a song exhorting people to be and do their best, and looking forward to a united Africa - in a sense the flipside to Marley's Survival album (prev rev).

The ensemble work of the Super Etoile is stunning - as tight as a tympanic bowel!
We are talking a big rhythm section playing slicker licks than Beethoven could ever write - some things are best left to the Senegalese...

And check out the saxophones!

Loads of 'em, and all geniuses.

Electrifying.

Other highlights include "Toxiques", one of the most gracefully angry songs I've heard, about 1st world countries dumping toxic waste in the 3rd World (and yes, you can still dance to it!).

Myoko and Fenene also sizzle (it all does), and Fenene appears on the recent reggae collection, Kingston-Dakar (prev rev).

There is a haunting song with rich classical strings only backing it up, but I can't identify the title! Well worth a listen.

It seems unfair to single out highlights, when the whole darn album keeps you enthralled anyway.

Come and choose your own!

10/10.