When the Word Was Song

Following the success of their duo album, Our Calling, Anglo-Italian singer songwriter, Piers Faccini and Malian Kora player Ballake Sissoko release a follow up ep of new songs to that release. In the same spirit as their last album, this new ep highlights the deep musical bond these two artists have built up over more than twenty years of friendship as well as the unique and profound nature of their musical and cross cultural dialogue, taking Malian Kora modes to Folk song and vice versa with English language forms bridging Manding melodic phrasing. Once again these two musical adventurers have created songs of a profound and original emotional intensity for us to enjoy.

Melancholy, featuring the cellist Vincent Segal and Harbour, featuring Badjé Tounkara on ngoni are from the original album sessions recorded in Paris whilst their rendition of Mississippi bluesman Skip James’s Special Rider Blues was recorded at the Maida Vale studios at the BBC in London. Lastly, When the word was song was written together while on tour and is a live version recorded on the road.