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Tinariwen, Amassakoul
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By Gary Joyner
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Members of a stateless generation of unemployed exiles known as ishumar, the musicians of Tinariwen, a guitar band from the southern Sahara desert, channel their anger over lost identity into music and poetry on their second CD, Amassakoul. We are told that before Tinariwen there was no concept of a musical group in the Sahara—musicians would meet and play in impromptu gatherings but never stay together to develop as an entity. Fortunately, we don’t need to understand this complex and murky social and cultural history to be immediately swept away by the music. Comparisons with Ali Farka Toure, as well as John Lee Hooker, under the dubious classification of “African blues,” are inevitable. The strong placement in the mix of taut electric guitar sounds with group vocals, percussion, and flute do bring Toure’s work to mind, but close listening reveals such differences as a slightly softer edge in the overall sound, especially the guitars, and a muted rap influence in the Arawan language vocals. Against haunting ensemble backup singing throughout, stark lyrics beautifully express the pain of a people who feel forgotten. “Alkhar Dessouf” begins, “To feel a shock of worry and nostalgia / To feel something in me / Like gnawed wood / Hollowed out from inside by the insect / And before my eyes / The earth, the fog, the mist / I always feel this nostalgia.” Liner notes contain translations of the lyrics, photos of the musicians and their environment, and a little information about their world. This exciting collection is not to be missed. (World Village, www.worldvillagemusic.com)
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Sponsor
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Guitar Salon International
The World’s Largest Selection of Classical and Flamenco Guitars and products.
www.guitarsalon.com
310.399.2181
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