Youssou N'Dour
is a Senegalese singer who documents the intersection of the past and the present, so it is no surprise that there is a parable in every song on
Wommat (The Guide)
. The record is propelled by talking drums, a horn section and guitar and bass polyrhythms that will sound familiar to fans of South African township music (or
Paul Simon
's masterpiece
Graceland
), and
N'Dour
's distinctive voice (in Wolof and French, with a smattering of English) is captivating. Unfortunately,
The Guide
is overproduced and seldom lives up to the promise of
"7 Seconds,"
the vaguely menacing duet with
Neneh Cherry
. Buy it to hear
's voice soar through the history and lessons of
. ~ Peter Stepek