Simple guitar and voice tapes from Salif lay the foundations for the album's melodies and harmonies. Rhythmical motifs are woven in and out by local musicians.Salif was joined in the studio by special guests Manu Dibango and his awesome sax-chorus, and Bobby McFerrin, who improvised a soft melody on the simbi over Salif's beat-boxing. The Grammy Award-winning artist, Esperanza Spalding, featured on the song "Cherie s'en va" - a dedication to young girls who leave home to marry. And British prodigy Roots Manuva's flow is captured on "C'est bon c'est bon", a Lee Perry-type production filled with warp-speed, rock-steady infra-bass and soulful backing vocals.