so cool that I now wish to die

The connection between West African music and American blues has never been as clear or as powerful as it is on Amassakoul. The modal nature of much of the playing reminds you of John Lee Hooker, but there's no doubt that this is the well he was drawing from, not the other way 'round. I think any fan of West African music will absolutely love Amassakoul

Electric Tuareg

Recently attended the latest Festival au Desert near Timbuktu. The last night of the event we had to leave early to catch a plane. We got in our van and proceeded across the dunes to Timbuktu. Our driver, Aly Araouani put on a tape of Tuareg music which played and replayed through the night as we traversed from the site to our plane, through the town of Timbuktu, across the Niger River and south through the semi desert towards our destination. Over and over through the moonlight night and into the dawn we listened to the tape. When we arrived in Mopti I asked Aly whether he had a copy of that tape and he pulled one out of his pocket. When we returned to home I treasured the music and went to get it rerecorded. While surfing for Tuareg music I discovered the tape is Tinariwen's latest released called Amassakoul. Yes I have ordered it, but imagine my surprise when I sampled this cd. Listening and transported back to the hurried drive out of the festival it recreated for me the magic of that long trip. Aly had given me the jewel of Tuareg music. This album captures the beauty of the 'blue people' and as popular music has great rifts and fine catchy melodies. In my continuing search for great world music this set of songs tops my list.

Incredible!

If B.B. King or John Lee Hooker were accidentally dropped into a jam session with a group of traditional African tribal musicians, and somehow electric instruments were available, you'd get something like this. Wailing guitar over pulsing African rhythms, bluesy melodies over call-and-response style singing.... it doesn't get a whole lot better than this. There's a reason Tinariwen (pronounced tuh-NAR-uh-wen) is taking the world by storm. See for yourself!