Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions

Tinariwen wandered the deserts of North West Africa for almost twenty years before Westerners detected their Tishoumaren mix of electric blues and traditional Malian vocals. Lyrics that are sung in French and Tamashek obviously complicate the process of reviewing their music in English, but the solemnity of tracks like Imazaghen N Adagh helps translate themes of independence and nomadic restlessness. Indeed, despite the language barrier, there’s plenty to stick your teeth into; the scratchy blues guitar of Tenhert sounds like Jimi Hendrix playing Hey Joe in the Sahara, while songs like Lulla and Imidiwan Afrik Tendam are more upbeat, major-key numbers. Fleeting snatches of rapping remind us that West Africa, despite being overlooked in the contemporary music industry, is nevertheless the cradle of popular music as we know it. With this in mind, hearing blues and hip-hop reinterpreted by a people who, centuries before, were involved in pop’s inception, makes for a fascinating listen.