The American Kanaga System Krush label operates under the motto: "Putting money into the pockets of the artists & music into the hands of the people!" and focuses on music from West Africa. The latest achievement of this fair trade label is the release of two albums by the late Malian guitarist Lobi Traore (1961 - 2010). 'Barra Coura' and 'Bwati Kono' can be regarded as a diptych, with the first album focusing on the traditional acoustic Mali blues and the second featuring rawer electronically amplified tracks. Of the two, 'Bwati Kono' impresses most; stronger even, this might well be the best thing that has reached us from Mali in a while, which of course makes Lobi's untimely end all the more poignant. Nice tribute to a musical virtuoso!