1 Sounsoumba 4:21
2 Sukunyali 6:02
3 Kounadya 4:33
4 Donso 6:09
5 Wele Wele Wintou 5:19
6 Senkele Te Sira 4:33
7 Djigui 4:38
8 Seya 4:13
9 Iyo Djeli 6:01
10 Mogo Kele 5:40
11 Koroko 4:29

It's been too long since any album proper from the 'songbird of Wassoulou'. Although the compilation Oumou (2004) included previously unreleased material, (mostly cherry-picked from her Mali-only 2001 release Laban, and reworked), her last internationally promoted record was Worotan in 1996. Thankfully Seya doesn't disappoint - it's the best thing since her marvellous 1991 debut Moussoulou, which is one of the all time great treasures of Malian music.
Seya traverses a wide range of moods, from confident and celebratory to more austere, stripped down meditations. And while few artists give as good a groove as Oumou, the latter are often the best settings to appreciate her extraordinary voice; if Aretha Franklin had grown up in Bamako, she might have sounded something like this.

This album may well turn out to be the African album of the year - Oumou's voice is incredibly strong & soulful and the record is perfectly constructed - let it build and you will be entranced by the end. The sleeve notes and translations will tell you exactly what she is singing about, but in many ways the music speaks for itself....whether you are a new listener to Malian music or someone who is familiar with Oumou's previous albums, there is no way you will regret buying this !

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