Malian vocalist Mamani Keita started her career touring as a backup singer with one of Mali’s greatest vocalists, Salif Keita. Her time spent under Keita’s tutelage is evident in her commanding tone, precise phrasing, and ability to adapt her delivery to suit a variety of genres. Where Keita’s earlier albums were celebratory affairs that sported glossy, beat-heavy productions, the gritty Gagner L’Argent Francais draws from a more downcast palette. For this album, Keita and Repac have assembled a set of moody, sometimes despairing songs that directly address the economic difficulties faced by France’s immigrant populations. The title track hits particularly hard; midway through its nearly six-minute runtime, it abruptly transforms from a bluesy kora-led lament to a blazing slice of Afrobeat indignation as Keita chants the refrain “It’s not easy earning French money” in a fashion that recalls some of Fela Kuti’s most rousing moments. A vibrant and compelling piece of work that never shies from the realities of 21st-century life, Gagner L’Argent Francais may be the most engaging and rewarding release of Keita’s career.