CD: Tell No Lies
Artist: Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara
Label: Real World Records


Reviewed by Lark Clark,
Host of World Spinning

Listen to samples from Tell No Lies:
(In order to listen you must have Windows Media Player. To install the latest player, click here.)

Kele Kele (No Passport No Visa)
Banjul Girl
Madam Mariama

We know the blues originated in Africa, and now we're tracing the banjo's roots there too. But rock-n-roll? Well, this music by Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara sounds not so much created, as discovered, as if somewhere in Africa, people have been making rock' n' ritti since time immemorial.

What's a ritti? It's a one-stringed fiddle that in Juldeh Camara's hands sings, squeals, laughs, comments, and just flat out rocks. Combined with Justin Adams primal electric guitar riffs, the result is a partnership that makes you wonder why no one thought of this before.

The record company bumff says that Camara's "blind father received the gift of music from forest spirits who took the use of his eyes in return." I guess that says it all.