Tamikrest

Following in the footsteps of musical pioneers Tinariwen, these Tuareg/Malians are blazing a trail all their own and what a beautifully sculpted path it is. With a tight unit of six, Tamikrest, with just three albums behind them, are already masters of the hypnotising groove, gently undulating grooves that seem to have two or three rhythms going on at any one time, always interlocking with precision and yet performed in a manner befitting the sounds – relaxed! But there’s also plenty of subtle edginess here, especially via the intricate guitar work and the wonderfully varied percussion and drumming. With a three-line vocal, some ululations here and there, and a band that have picked up musical threads far and wide to create their own distinct take on ‘desert-blues’, Tamikrest’s new album ‘Chatma’ is one well worth checking.

Komedia, 21 October 2013

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