Tinariwen
Amatssou
Wedge
19 May 2023
Tassili N’Ajjer is a sandstone plateau in the Sahara desert’s south Algerian zone. As a national park, it’s famous for prehistoric cave paintings of camels, cattle, battles and magic-religious ceremonies. Many researchers claim the artworks show proof of psychedelic plant use among ancient African populations. And it was here, in the oasis region of Djanet, that Tinariwen came to create their latest album Amatssou.
The north Malian group also recorded their Tassili outing there thirteen years ago. In tents, in the desert, this remarkable band of survivors thrives amid such surroundings, always recording themselves live. But had it not been for covid, the conditions would have looked very different. Tinariwen were originally set to record in America, under the guidance of Daniel Lanois, with a crack team of country musicians. In the end, they decamped to Djanet with two French engineers before sending the results to Lanois and his crew for overdubs.
As guardians of the desert blues genre, Tinariwen are also vocal ambassadors for peace. No strangers to conflict, they’ve seen family members murdered, experienced abductions and literally fought for their cause. Mali has an ongoing conflict between its northern Tuareg people and the Malian state, which is dominated by southerners. Invading jihadists tried to ban music in Mali, and recent military coups saw French peacekeeping troops depart. So it’s into this ongoing unrest that Amatssou, or ‘Beyond The Fear’, has dropped.
What’s soon evident is that Tinariwen haven’t gone full honky-tonk. The country aspects are more like subtle embellishments, with a banjo rippling under the joyous opening cut Kek Alghalm (The World). But the anthemic harmonies and chugging handclaps can’t hide a lyrical agony, with such lines as “Why so much silence all over the world/Only spilt blood/Only brave men killed.” (Words in translation). Indeed, it’s a striking feature of Tinariwen’s music that their languorous harmonies bear such urgent messages within. A wisp of campfire fiddle floats through Tenere Den (Desert) among heat-hazy riffs, and then Arajghiyine (The Traitors) adds a gritty Red Dirt edge to the guitars.
Newbie players to the Tinariwen style should go for dropped tunings, using their thumb to play bass notes like a drone. Then faff around on minor pentatonic scales with pull-offs and hammer-ons until the desired effect is achieved. For a masterclass, check out this album’s track Tidjit (Elevation), where the looping riffs attain something raw and devotional. Pedal steel brushes in quietly on the brooding Jayche Atarak (Tareq’s Group), where we learn, “Whatever happens, the martyrs will be avenged.” There’s a trancelike progression to Imidiwan Mahitinam (Companions, What Are You Saying?) while Ezlan (Glory) waltzes by on Cooder-like acoustics.
Growing up in Mali, the future Tinariwen players had access to street market cassettes of Jimi Hendrix and Dire Straits. These influences are strongly sensed on Amatssou amid the group’s trademark drones, drums, slow flow of melodies and multiple voices. Yet for all the Americana trimmings here, this band’s political take on praise-singing carries an eternal purity.
Order/Stream: https://www.tinariwen.com/amatssou