Etran Finatawa’s Desert Crossroads has provided subtly wonderful background music for me these past few weeks, so it was a pleasant surprise to go to Pitchfork last week and read their edifying and well-written review of the record. I’d rehash for you but I honestly think you’re better off heading there to learn about this collaboration between members of the Wodaabe and Tuareg tribes. Yes, it will probably help buy Ryan Schreiber yet another ivory back-scratcher but if you have any interest in mysterious, sand-swept Sahara tribal rhythms, you’re better off getting the info from someone better informed, as sadly, I got a D+ in Sand-Swept Saharan Tribal Rhythms in College. Damn you Professor Mouahaboutilah!
Buy Etran Finatawa-Desert Crossroads (strongly recc’d if you’re into this sort of thing)
Download:
MP3: Etran Finatawa-”Kel Tamashack”
MP3: Etran Finatawa-”Asistan”
3 comments
Joseph says:
June 2, 2008 at 7:20 pm (UTC -7)
Between this and Guitars from Agadez, I’m sold on Niger. Aside from metal, this is the only current guitar based music that sounds interesting to me. Any additional recommendations?
Passion of the Weiss says:
June 2, 2008 at 7:28 pm (UTC -7)
I’d also recommend Tinariwen’s Aman Iman: Water is Life, which is another Tuareg guitar record released last year. Tinariwen are legends among Saharan guitar groups and apparently one of the chief inspirations for Etran Finatawa. Glad to hear you’re enjoying this.
5-Track says:
September 26, 2008 at 2:03 pm (UTC -7)
Didja catch ‘em last night at the Japanese-American Museum downtown?