SMOD: globalFEST 2012

By Anastasia Tsioulcas

Here comes another generation of masterful West African grooves: the Malian group SMOD, making its U.S. debut. If there's a familiar, lilting guitar-and-song groove underpinning the band's layers of hip-hop rhymes, don't be surprised; one of the members, Sam, is the son of the phenomenal duo Amadou and Mariam.

SMOD has benefited from that sphere of music's influence; the visionary Manu Chao, who produced Sam's parents' excellent album Dimanche à Bamako, also produced SMOD's debut. With tightly wound vocal harmonies and effervescent guitar played by Sam, the singing was even more effective than the rapping.

Set List

• "Fitri Waleya"
• "Dakan"
• "Ca Chante"
• "Dirigeants Africains"
• "Jennes Filles Du Maliba"
• "J'ai Pas Peur Du Micro"
• "Ambola"
• "Politic Adani"
• "Dja"

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