Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko’s duelling kora masterpiece, recorded in the halls of Mali’s Palais de Congrès, in honor of the two’s patrilineal heritage.
New Ancient Strings, a timeless album of kora duets by Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko and perhaps Lucy’s favourite of the twenty five records she has produced. Recorded in a single night on September 22nd 1997 this classic long player has long been out of print, only adding to its cult status among audiophiles and connoisseurs of Mandé music.
1. Bi Lambam
2. Salaman
3. Kita Kaira
4. Bafoulabe
5. Cheikhna Demba
6. Kora Bali
7. Kadiatou
8. Yamfa

New Ancient Strings is an album by world-renowned Malian kora players Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko. Originally released by record producer Joe Boyd`s (Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, Pink Floyd) Hannibal Records in 1999, the album was met with critical acclaim, and has since become a symbol of Mali`s musical heritage and the kora tradition.To celebrate the 25th anniversary of New Ancient Strings, the album has been newly remastered and makes its vinyl. debut. Inspired by the landmark 1970 album, Ancient Strings (recorded by their fathers, Sidiki Diabate and Djelimadi Sissoko), Toumani and Ballake took to making their own contemporary version. Many of the songs are taken from the original repertoire, but the music is all modern Mali and played beautifully making this an exemplary classic in its field. Recorded in a single night, without any overdubs or rehearsals, the album captures the acclaimed kora players in the extraordinary natural acoustics of the Palais de Congre
New Ancient Strings has become a cult classic and is frequently cited as an inspiration for western musicians including Childish Gambino, and Bjork who later worked with Toumani Diabate on her Volta album.Remastered from the original master tape by Phil Kinrade, and cut by Barry Grint, at AIR Mastering
LP - 180g black vinyl, housed in a poly-lined inner sleeve, with a four-page insert featuring liner notes and photos from producer Lucy Dura, belly band and reverse-board outer sleeve