Amatssou

by Tinariwen

Overview

Much has been written about Tinariwen's resilience. After being exiled from their home in Mali, the nomadic Saharan blues collective first came together in the early '80s, training as soldiers for the Libyan military while trying to preserve their Tuareg cultural heritage in song. They didn't make their first album until 2001, and even after their improbable rise to global attention, they have continued to face near-constant adversity. In 2012 they were again exiled from their war-torn homeland and, despite their many connections among the Western musical elite, they have recorded their last two albums in tents. The veteran band has lived harder than any rock & roll fable, asking for little more than a place to land and make music. Initially set to be recorded at Jack White's personal Nashville studio, their ninth album, Amatssou (a Tamashek term that translates to "beyond the fear"), was disrupted by the global pandemic, forcing them to instead record in a makeshift desert camp in Algeria. It was produced remotely (from Los Angeles) by Daniel Lanois, one of rock's most respected producers. In other words, it's business as usual for Tinariwen. The band's trend of bringing in Western players from disparate genres continues here, this time with country musicians Wes Corbett (banjo) and Fats Kaplin (fiddle) joining the fray. One of the most remarkable things about Tinariwen is how permeable and elastic their music is. Previous records have included everyone from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to indie rocker Kurt Vile, and yet the attributes each of these guests bring are uniformly folded into the ever-consistent whole of the group's sound. On "Tenere Den," Kaplin's reeling fiddle weaves effortlessly throughout a typically snaky Tinariwen melody. Likewise, Corbett's nimble banjo feels like an essential component of "Kek Alghalm." Their contributions are mere echoes of American country music, easily joining the family of sounds that comprise what has come to be known as desert blues. For his part, Lanois takes an appropriately light touch, balancing the unique performances with the occasional ethereal flourish, like on the mesmerizing "Jayche Atarak." Like all Tinariwen releases, Amatssou is compelling and strange. They are a musical entity like no other, translating the essence of their culture through creative exploration and complementary collaborations, yet always attuned to their inner compass. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/19/2023
Label:	Wedge
UPC:	5056614702859

Tracks

1. Kek Alghalm
2. Tenere Den
3. Arajghiyine
4. Tidjit
5. Jayche Atarak
6. Imidiwan Mahitinam
7. Ezlan
8. Anemouhagh
9. Iket Adjen
10. Nak Idnizdjam

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tinariwen   Primary Artist
Eyadou Ag Leche   Bass,Clapping,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni   Guitar,Vocals,Clapping,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Amar Chaoui   Percussion
Fats Kaplin   Banjo,Violin
Daniel Lanois   Piano
Wes Corbett   Banjo
Alhassane Ag Touhami   Vocals,Clapping,Vocals (Background)
Said Ag Ayad   Djembe,Calabash,Clapping,Darbouka,Vocals (Background)
Ibrahim Ag Alhabib   Guitar,Vocals
Elaga Ag Hamid   Guitar,Clapping,Vocals (Background)
Hicham Bouhasse   Guitar,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Malick Chakali   Lute
Miloudi Mad Chaghli   Lute

Technical Credits

Eyadou Ag Leche   Composer
Andy Morgan   Translation
Mike Marsh   Mastering
Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni   Composer
Daniel Lanois   Additional Production
Joshua V. Smith   Engineer
Alhassane Ag Touhami   Composer
Wayne Lorenz   Engineer
Mohammed Ag Itlale   Composer
Ibrahim Ag Alhabib   Composer
Patrick Votan   Producer
Marie Planeille   Photography
Frank Merritt   Cut,Mastering
Maxime Kosinetz   Mixing,Engineer
Thomas Bunio   Engineer
Assaleck Ag Tita   Lyric Translation
David Cukier   Engineer
Samuel Borst   Mixing Assistant
Thibault Proux   Design