Rokia Traoré

On her spare, sensuous third recording, Malian singer Rokia Traoré expands her vision of an inspirational new-world folk music that connects with listeners of all ages. By using a minimalist approach for the arrangements -- percussion and strings (traditional African lute, acoustic guitar and bass, and the Kronos String Quartet on a pair of tracks) -- the album puts Traoré's melodies front and center. Soft-toned and self-assured, her voice shimmers with serene rhythmic energy, like the sun sparkling on the wrinkled surface of a deep-blue lake. Traoré matches the quiet strength of her vocals with clear-sighted lyrics that honor the wisdom of the elders while urging a modernist exploration of all that life has to offer. On "Kôté Don," she encourages "smart young girls" to revel in their youth: "I respect my ancestors/ But tradition is not infallible. ... Let's make the most of our time/ Let's celebrate."