Tinariwen: Emmaar
Tinariwen stateside, Phantogram’s Bill Murray, a tribute to J Dilla and more in the music we tweeted this week
Malian band Tinariwen are famous in their own Saharan country as much for their rocking desert blues as for their role in the ’80s as Tuareg rebel fighters for Gadaffi. Despite their critically acclaimed musical talent, it would be hard to separate the band from politics and, as NPR points out, the new album Emmaar is a reflection of their native region’s turmoil. The band was forced to record the forthcoming album stateside due to Islamic extremists’ ban on music in Mali, and the LP is lacking band member Intidao due to his kidnapping. It does however, feature Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and musician Fats Kaplin, who only enhance the cult-loved Tinariwen sound.
