TINARIWEN

Amassakoul

(Harmonia Mundi)

            The deep roots of the blues lie near the southern Saharan nation of Mali, the dusty homeland of Tinariwen.  Although this group of desert tribesman and women use electric guitars and bass, the percussive timbre of their music isn’t far removed from the ancient thumb-piano and drum-chorus music of West Africa, and the electricity only connects them to such droning, blues-guitar primitives as John lee Hooker.  At the same time, the assertive rhythms and attitude push Tinariwen toward rock.  In fact, they rock with steadier force and purpose on Amassakoul than many bands being marketed under that heading.

—David Luhrssen