Senegalese vocalist Omar Pene was at the height of his powers when, with his group Super Diamono, he arrived at Real World in 1996 and gifted a live session that blew everybody's hair back. By then Pene had been with Diamono for over two decades, assuming a captaincy in the '80s that saw the band jousting for popularity at home with the mighty Youssou N'Dour. Pene's voice was different: deep, melodious and effortlessly soulful. Heard here, on such self-penned, socially conscious tunes as 'Giande', a toe-tapper about courage; oh-so-funky anti-war anthem 'Xamiene'; 'Soweto', a guitar-driven ode to the South African township; and even 'Diaraf', a paean to Pene's favourite Dakar football team, it's an instrument imbued with genuine emotion. Ultimately, Direct From Dakar is a party album: an aural snapshot of a dance band in the zone and a lead singer in his element, vibing on collective energy and letting the good times flow.
Track Listing:
1. Aral Sa Doom - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (5.3)
2. Rer - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (5.19)
3. Soweto - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (4.3)
4. Niane - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (3.54)
5. Gainde - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (4.19)
6. Yaye Boye - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (7.32)
7. Diaraf - Omar Pene & Super Diamono (6.19)
Year of Production: 1997
