IGNORED OBSCURED RESTORED
I’ve been entertaining the idea to write a post featuring a selection of Tuareg music from the Sahara Desert (e.g. Ali Farka Touré and Tinariwen) for some time now – but I never seem to get around to it.
Then I recently discovered Bombino. Bombino (Omara “Bombino” Moctar) released his third album Nomad this past April. It was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, adding some discipline to Bombino’s sound without sanitizing or watering down his ethnic roots. In other words, Auerbach polished it up a little for western ears. For instance, many tracks utilize keyboards even though Tuareg desert music traditionally doesn’t.
This is a terrific album that should appeal to anyone that enjoys world music and/or The Black Keys brand of dirty, blues rock. Take, for example, the album’s opener and today’s SotW, “Amidinine.”
It romps along a bluesy riff with a solid rock beat and purring organ. But the hand claps, guitar solos, native language lyrics and chanted chorus all work together to provide an authentic Tuareg sound.
The entire album is available to stream on Spotify, so you should check it out.
Enjoy… until next week.
Most “interesting” music is not particularly “engaging” or, you know, good. This is really good.
i like it too. kind of hypnotic. and, i really like the chords and phrasing at the end of the solo.