|
|
 |
CD Review
|
| Click Here to go back. |
Plain Dealer, CD Review >>
Tinariwen
"The Radio Tisdas Sessions"
(World Village)
File under: Revolutionary music of exile and reconciliation from the Sahara desert.
The unique band of male vocalist-guitarists, a percussionist and a trio of female backup singers was formed in 1982 in Col. Gadhafi's rebel camps. The musicians, Tuareg rebels who lived a nomadic life in the Sahara, exchanged their guns for electric guitars and developed a style of music that functioned as an underground communication system. Initially, their songs of independence were banned in Mali and Algeria. But when the violence declined and the exiles returned to Mali, they were allowed to perform publicly. By then, their songs had risen to the status of national anthems, and the musicians were treated like heroes. In their North American debut album, Tinariwen sings songs of reconciliation, reconstruction and hope. Regrettably, the liner notes contain no translations. But the performances blaze with a raw passion that transcends words. The tuneful music incorporates Moorish ornamentation and catchy choruses. Some messages are delivered in call-and-response form. Several are based on repetitive rhythms that suggest a camel's gait. The voices sound rough, worn and spontaneous. Electric guitars, replacing traditional string instruments, give the music a contemporary edge. Clearly, the revolutionary musicians found power in the desert. A-
--Wilma Salisbury 11/17/02
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
