Izvorišta 447: Salif Keita, Dunja Knebl & Roko Margeta, Trio Da Kali
With a slight delay, I'm putting online the show that was originally broadcast a few weeks ago, in which I presented new albums by Dunja Knebl & Roko Margeta, Salif Keita, and Trio Da Kali.
(you can also listen to this episode on Mixcloud, just click here)
Dunja Knebl & Roko Margeta - Fauna (Selfreleased 2025.)
The tireless Dunja Knebl has recorded an album titled “Fauna” with Roko Margeta. As the album title suggests, the theme of the songs revolves around the animal world, with Dunja uncovering intriguing pieces from the Croatian musical tradition on the subject. However, this is by no means an album about animals. Rather, fauna merely serves as a motif to explore human and other types of relationships — and once again the synergy between Dunja and Roko proves to be outstanding.
Salif Keita - So Kono (No Format! 2025.)
An absolute global music legend has returned with a brand new, completely acoustic album. To the previous sentence, I can only add that this is the best album Salif Keita has released in the past twenty years.
Trio Da Kali – Bagola (One World, 2025)
It is interesting to note that "Bagola" is the first solo album by Trio Da Kali, a group that has been active in the scene for ten years. So far, they had only released a single solo EP and a collaborative album with the Kronos Quartet. However, that was enough to keep us eagerly awaiting "Bagola", an album that comes a full eight years after their last release - and one that proves Trio Da Kali have lost none of the magic they’ve shown from the beginning. The brilliant vocals of Kassé Mady Diabaté in conjunction with the minimalist instrumental backing (balafon, ngoni) once again prove to be a successful combination. All fans of West African griot music should definitely give this album a listen.
Tracklist:
Mostar Sevdah Reunion - Negdje u daljine
Cinkuši - Alaj Jano
Dunja Knebl i Roko Margeta - Riba
Dunja Knebl i Roko Margeta - Tičica
Dunja Knebl i Roko Margeta - Maček
Salif Keita - Aboubakrin
Salif Keita - Awa
Salif Keita - Soundiata
Trio Da Kali - Bagola
Trio Da Kali - Celasigi
The Breath - Land Of My Other
Keep reading/listening:
Best music of 2025 (so far)
Last year, I published monthly "best of" music recaps on Substack, featuring the music I listened to the most each month. I wasn’t exactly consistent with my writing, so sometimes the monthly recaps turned into bi-monthly or even quarterly ones, but I somehow managed to keep it up. This year I've been a bit lazy and haven’t written much, but I’ve decide…
Sounds great. I'll try to have a listen if I get a chance. A small clarification (which I imagine you already know): Kassé Mady Diabaté was the great Malian male singer who died in 2008 (and I had the privilege to see in Brussels). Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté, from Trio da Kali, is his daughter.