FRIDAY FEEDBACK: TINARIWEN

Please do not call me the Tuareg version of Justin Guarini

This week's Friday Feedback track is:

"Tamatant Tilay" by Tinariwen
from the new LP, Aman Iman: Water is Life

The West African band Tinariwen is a superb example of why my collection of music from Africa needs to expand beyond Paul Simon's Graceland. (That's only a half-joke.)

My friend Zahir exposed me to Tinariwen, which, sadly, exposed me to the existence of the nomadic Tuareg people. I've since learned that the Tuaregs now mostly reside in Mali and these rebels have been fighting for a homeland for decades. Out of this struggle, this band was born.

I can't really describe their latest album other than to say that the electric guitar plays a starring role in a sound that is a little blues, a little Santana (with whom they've performed), and something entirely unique. I believe this track that I chose is sung in their native language of Tamashek, but it could be French or English, for all I know.

Thoughts?

(Credit: Zahir)

--Junichi