''At Pioneer Works'' is the third record and first live recording by
Niger
Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state Geography of Niger#Political geography, bordered by Libya to the Libya–Niger border, north-east, Chad to the Chad–Niger border, east ...
-based quartet
Les Filles de Illighadad, released through
Sahel Sounds
Sahel Sounds is an American record label, based in Portland, Oregon, which specializes in music from the southern part of the Sahara desert.
Details
Sahel Sounds was founded by Christopher Kirkley, a self-declared "amateur ethnomusicologist", who ...
in July 2021. It was recorded in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
at the
Pioneer Works
Pioneer Works is a Nonprofit organization, nonprofit cultural arts center in the Red Hook, Brooklyn, Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City that was founded by artist Dustin Yellin in 2012. Pioneer Works includes a large exhibition spac ...
cultural center.
Critical reception
David Renard of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described the music as "repetitive and hypnotic... convey
ngsomething spiritual and solemn," but noted that it also "transmits a sense of joy and playfulness that goes back to the music's roots in village life."
In a review for ''
Mojo
Mojo may refer to:
* Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in Hoodoo
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* ''Mojo'' (2017 film), a 2017 Indian Kannada drama film written and directed by Sreesha Belakvaadi
* '' ...
'', David Hutcheon praised the group's "insistent beat and the ragged interplay between the guitarists that is seriously (Warhol-era) Velvet Underground in its sting."
Bekki Bemrose of ''
musicOMH
''MusicOMH'' (stylized as ''musicOMH'') is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.
History
''MusicOMH'' was founded an ...
'' called ''At Pioneer Works'' the band's "definitive record to date," and stated that it "feels timeless and sacred," capturing "their tenderness, inventiveness and profound talent."
''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials.
The term is also applie ...
s Allison Hussey wrote: "Notes seem to spring off of one another on every song, each tightly wound coil bouncing and unspooling in directions that are delightful to follow... The group's music imagines longstanding traditions while channeling the enthusiasm of audacious, self-determined freedom."
Writing for ''Spectrum Culture'', Pat Padua described the album as "mesmerizing," and commented: "in this spirited live performance, you can hear Les Filles open up their hearts."
A writer for ''
Aquarium Drunkard
''Aquarium Drunkard'' is an online music magazine based in Los Angeles, California and launched in 2005 by Justin Gage, who chose the name "Aquarium Drunkard" based on a reference to a lyric written by the band Wilco. Along with its music revi ...
'' remarked: "Melodically, there is plenty of room to breathe. Each instrument... fills in what it needs to organically. Nothing is overworked, just enhanced."
Track listing
Personnel
All credits adapted from the record's
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is an American online music distribution platform founded in 2008 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with an office and record store in Oakland, California. Acquired by Epic ...
page.
* Fatou Seidi Ghali - vocals, guitar
* Alamnou Akrouni - vocals, percussion
* Amaria Hamadlher - guitar, percussion
* Abdoulaye Madassane - vocals, percussion
References
{{Authority control
2021 live albums
Blues albums by Nigerian artists
Sahel Sounds live albums