In 2022, Vieux and Khruangbin will release the album 'Ali', a tribute to Vieux's father of the same name. Ali Farka Touré, like Vieux, was a widely loved guitarist and is known as one of the most influential and talented guitarists Africa has produced. His sound fused his beloved traditional Malian musical styles with distinct elements of blues and singing in the local languages Fulfulde, Tamasheq, Songhay and Bambara. The result was the creation of a pioneering new genre, now known as the 'desert blues', three Grammy awards. He was also given the honourable nickname of the 'African John Lee Hooker'.
The love for music has been passed down from father to son and has been the source of the 'Ali' album. On this tribute, Vieux has given some of Ali's most powerful musical works a new twist, while maintaining the integrity of the original.
The choice of the trio Khruangbin is logical to honour Ali's legacy: its multi-voiced mix of psychedelic funk is loved worldwide, including in Ali and Vieux's beloved Mali. "I wanted to do this tribute with Khruangbin because I adore their music and they are a great example of musicians from another generation, and from a very different part of the world, who were also inspired and influenced by my father," says Vieux. "I want to convey love with this album. It's about the love I have for him and Khruangbin for his music," Vieux says.
Yet 'Ali' is not just another greatest hits compilation. It is a lullaby, a recollection of Ali's life using well-known highlights and B-sides from his catalogue. In the case of "Diarabi," for instance, the quartet adapts Ali's original with pronounced drums, resulting in a sound that is somewhat rooted in R&B but still sounds mysterious.
'Ali' is a great example of what happens when creativity is approached with open arms and open hearts. "For me, music is magic, it's spontaneous, it's the energy between people," says Vieux. "I think Khruangbin understands this very well."
