Vieux Farka Touré et Khruangbin - Ali

Ali is a collaboration studio album by Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré and American funk & soul trio Khruangbin, released in September 2022 via Dead Oceans.

Ali Farka Touré trekked the world, bringing his beloved Malian music to the masses. Dubbed ‘the African John Lee Hooker’, one could hear strong connections between the two; both employed a bluesy style of play with gritty textures that elicit calm and fury in equal measure. While the influence of Black blues music prevailed, Touré created a West African blend of ‘desert blues’ that garnered Grammy awards and widespread reverence.

Though he transcended in 2006, Ali’s musical legacy lives on through his son, Vieux aka ‘the Hendrix of the Sahara’, an accomplished guitarist and champion of Malian music in his own right. On ‘Ali’, his collaborative album with Khruangbin, Vieux pays homage to his father by recreating some of his most resonant work, putting new twists on it while maintaining the original’s integrity. The result is a rightful ode to a legend.

‘Ali’ isn’t just a greatest hits compilation. It’s a lullaby, a remembrance of Ali’s life through known highlights and B- sides from his catalogue. It is a testament to what happens when creativity is approached through open arms and open hearts. “To me, music is magic, it is spontaneous, it is the energy between people,” Vieux says. “I think Khruangbin understands this very well.”

‘Ali’ is a masterful work in which the love surrounding it is just as vital as the music itself, driving it to unforeseen places; Vieux and Khruangbin are spreading the good word to a completely new generation.

This album is an indies record store limited edition on jade coloured vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with a printed inner sleeve and download code, pressed in the US via Dead Oceans.