Youssou N'Dour: Joko (The Link)

Some consider the term "world music" condescending, a distinctly Western outlook that lumps most of the planet's music into the one marginalized genre. Not much international music even makes it to the West with much fanfare, an unfortunate truth that rarely allows the average fan to get a grip on the hundreds of different styles that flow through the rest of the world. What chance does King Sunny Ade have squeezed between King Diamond and King's X in the racks Another good example is Youssou N'Dour. Brought to the attention of many Americans through his impressive cameo on Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes," then as a featured performer on Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! Tour, N'Dour has repeatedly proved himself an amazing performer and vocalist. But what else would you expect from a Senegalese superstar who has been changing the course of African music since he was 12 Even so, N'Dour has had it pretty tough in America: His 1994 single with Neneh Cherry, "7 Seconds," was a hit virtually everywhere but here. Ideally, this cultural isolationism will ultimately erode, and there's always the chance that N'Dour will be the one to make it happen. That's because he truly makes what, for better or for worse, can only be termed world music, a mix of African and Western pop styles called mbalax that he long ago mastered and continues to drive. The mostly mellow Joko (The Link) is his first American release in six years, and it's a welcome return. N'Dour's spectacular voice is in top form, as are his songs. Of particular note is "Mademba (The Electricity Is Out Again)," about a wrongly imprisoned Senegalese trade unionist, and the hypnotic "This Dream," which combines a cameo from Gabriel with some subtle but enticing West African guitar patterns. But for every pop-fusion exercise, there's generally a political counterpoint. "Yama," "She Doesn't Need To Fall," and "Miss" form a trio of tracks dedicated to the strength of women, while the upbeat "Beykat" and "Liggeey" pay tribute to the hard work of the people. The album concludes with a pair of mostly English tracks, "My Hope Is In You" and "Red Clay," which highlight N'Dour's optimistic emotional intensity, wishing for a better life for himself and all around him. World music though it may be, one-world music may be a better indicator of N'Dour's goals: It's music to unite, bridge, and build something new all at once.