The 80 Best Albums of 2023

With London Ko, only her third studio album proper, she merges her African blues-indebted with a surprising amount of Western collaborators, ranging from soul legend Angie Stone to Gorillaz/Blur mastermind Damon Albarn, who co-produces half of the songs here. Yet even with a decked-out VIP room, the brilliance of London Ko lies with its songs, ranging from piano-driven laments of lost family on “Somaw” to her emotive collaboration with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus on “Sete”. London Ko may very well be Diawara’s most colorful record to date (check that wild dance collaboration with -M- on “Massa Den”), but it never once feels concessionary or overly commercial. Learn more on popmatters.com