ALL ARTISTS// Tinariwen
© Amélie Chassary
Imidiwan : Companions
Following two albums made in the capital Bamako, Tinariwen recorded this new release closer to home. They set up a studio in Tessalit, the Malian desert village which for the last two years has been home to Ibrahim Ag Alhabib and Alhassane Ag Touhami, two founding members of the group. Tinariwen recorded 13 tracks there, in an old house converted into a studio or recording out in the desert itself. Is there a sense that they want to return to the feel of their first album, the magnificent, stripped-down ‘Radio Tisdas Sessions’? Yes and no. The guitars may be less emphatic than on their most recent release ‘Aman Iman’, but 8 years since their debut, Tinariwen is not the same group. Their sound has more density, and the graceful precision of the interplay between the guitars and Eyadou Ag Leche’s incredible bass playing – often with acoustic and electric overdubs - has a depth and complexity most rock groups can only dream of. As with most Touareg music, each song is written by one individual, and it’s the songwriter who sings and plays lead guitar.
Two of Ibrahim’s compositions open the album, Imidiwan Afrik Tendam, with the classic groove this group has come to be associated with, said to be inspired by the inexorable swaying rhythm of a camel’s gait. Then on Lulla, we find the group cranking up the pace. Tenhert, one of the songs featured in their recent live sets, is built on an edgy, forceful guitar riff – a powerful track written by Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni. He is also behind two other songs Intitlayaghen and Kel Tamashek, marked by their singular structure which breaks away from the traditional call and response schema. The album really belongs to Ibrahim, who delivers some of the most beautiful tracks here, especially Tenelle Chegret and Assug Ag Assuf. In the first he reveals his thoughts on the Touareg revolution of the 90s and on the second a haunting guitar transports the listener to a wonderful starry night in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. The album closes with the sound of a single electric guitar being carried on the wind, a gripping evocation of the desert – that invisible member of Tinariwen, tangible in every note they play.
Tinariwen - Lulla
Bertrand Bouard
// ALSO
- Desert rebels return
- Tinariwen
- Tassili
- Western Sahara’s desert psych - Group Doueh on tour May 2011
- Tunng with Tinariwen, Tunng with Tinariwen
- Music from the Sahara, The Festival in the Desert - Essakane, Mali (8-10 January 2009)
- Quantic and his Combo Barbaro album launch tour starts Friday 5 June at the ICA
- Music from the Sahara, Music from the Sahara: the sound of the desert
- Joe Bataan & James Pants live at Cargo 11 June plus dates in Leeds and Birmingham
// ALL TINARIWEN'S REVIEWS
Imidiwan : Companions
25/08/2009
Aman Iman
05/02/2007
// DISCOGRAPHY
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Tassili (Album)
Ishumar (Musique tourègue et résistance) (Album)
Live 8 at Eden: Africa Calling (Album)
Amassakoul (Album)
Imidiwan : Companions (Album)
Aman Iman (Album)
The Rough Guide to the Music of the Sahara (compilation) (Album)
The Radio Tsidas sessions (Album)// LINKS
RELATED ARTISTS
>> Afel Bocoum
>> Ali Farka Touré
>> Boubacar Traoré
>> Daby Touré
>> Dimi Mint Abba
REPORTS
>> Tunng with Tinariwen
>> Music of Resistance
>> Music from the Sahara
>> The 2005 BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards
// CONTACT
Oye Mulata ! (Tourneur)
Tel : 01 53 28 15 43 Fax : 01 53 28 15 36
FRA
Send an email
Tinariwen's Website
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