Ba Tay is a new Senegalese import CD (soon to be available from cdstreet.com) containing all new material. The 8 tracks are: "Moor Ndaje", "Genne", "Ba Tay", "Le Climat", "Bey", "Sa Doole", "Xuloo-Bi", and "Bird". The CD features some catchy tunes & some unexpected sounds including Jimi Mbaye's mellowest & most harp-like guitar sound and even some English lyrics in "Bird".

Youssou N'dour And His Friends is a new domestic release containing both older material (including Xale Rewmi, previously released on "Set") and material not available on other CDs. The hilights of the CD include both vocal & instrumental versions of "Kirikou" and "La ronde des Ecoliers du monde", written for Ecoliers du monde (schoolchildren of the world), a foundation which promotes education in developing countries. Other tracks include "Lang", which is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and the previously unreleased tracks "Xaleyi", "Boul Ko Damo", and "Talal Loxo".

On both CDs, Youssou's voice is in fine form and he demonstrates that he's still one of the world's greatest vocalists, with an incredible range & a unique sound.