8 Tinariwen

This group of Touareg musicians first drew European attention in 2001 at Mali’s first Festival in the Desert, which was as much a camel derby as the birth of a movement. Four records down the line comes Imidiwan, another steaming load of desert blues, recorded at home in Tessalit, Mali. The electric guitars and voices patiently, assertively roll forward, riffing along, calling and responding, teasing color out of blue notes. Guitarist Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, who plays lead on about half the tracks, makes it all sound effortless—but this is a carefully crafted collective effort. Be sure to check out the short bundled film, which helps illuminate the people and the motion behind this exceptionally enlightened recording.