On this successor for 2015's 'Djamila', Mamadou Kelly's recipe - classic Mali-blues - has remained largely unchanged, but what sets 'Politiki' somewhat apart from its predecessor is the fact that for this album Kelly extended his band Ban Kai Na with four American musicians: steel guitar player Cindy Cashdollar, percussionist Susie Ibarra, Daniel Littleton (guitarist with indie-rock band Ida) and bassist Jake Silver. The mix of American guitars with Mamadou's Malian guitar and Brehim 'Yoro' Cisse's onesnared djourkel works well. The only downside to this release is that it doesn't include a translation of Kelly's lyrics, so it's a bit of a guessing game what Mamadou is on about in his songs tracks. But since we are professionals, we contacted producer Christopher A. Nolan who could tell us a thing or two. In title track 'Politiki' Kelly implores elected politicians not only to worry about the faith of their own electorate, 'Mahin Nime' is about watching your mouth, in order not to make a fool of yourself nor become a liar, 'La Vie Ce N'est Que Deux Jours' almost speaks for itself -in life there are only two really important days, the day you're born, and the day you die; enjoy the days in between as possible - and in 'Nakaam', a song for which Mamadou Kelly also recorded a video, the singer tackles the inevitability of fate. More than successful intercontinental cross pollination!