Artists
who's who and who's doing what?Tamikrest
- country:Mali
- label:
- gender:male, female
- artist submitted by:
booking territory: GAS, Scandinavia & Eastern Europe
2012: mai - july
TAMIKREST in tamasheq language means junction, connection, knot, coalition. The group members come from different horizons (Mali, Niger, Algeria). Wanting to assume fully their Touareg identity, they found in the rebel music Ishumar the means to express it.
"A desert hosts us, a language unites us, a culture binds us."
The story begins at Kidal, capital of the 8th Region of Mali, while making tea of course. Pino, Cheikh and Mossa had just finished a guitar workshop with Juhan Ecare (guitarist for Meiway) when they decided to form a group with only two old "home made" guitars. And they got to work...
"Even though we are young, guitars still have six cords"
With their second album "Toumastin" the young Tuareg rebels create their own universe using even brighter colours. The enchanted ancient mystique of the songs captures the ear immediately, but as the music carries on the band bridges the gap between the African Blues and hypnotic dub, psychedelic funk and an almost supernatural kind of desert garage. The guitars are more offensive, the groove deepens and the Tamaschek chants are merging with the meandering guitar riffs like a caravan voyage through ancient times. Tamikrest are ready to embrace the future while proudly maintaining the rich tradition of their folk.
"A winning debut whose surety and innovations promise a great future." **** Uncut
"Their take on loping desert blues played on rock guitars is beautiful paced, full of clapped groove with soaring, often chanted vocals and plenty of ululation... as bittersweet as hot Touareg tea." **** The List
"A real gift to anyone willing to open their ears to it." Clash Magazine
"Plenty of heft and juicy reverb, the loping drone of lead and twin rhythm guitars redolent of a spacey, hypnotic Seventies rock ambience." The Independent
"Beautiful, spacious blues that unites the desert they call home... Adagh is seriously good." **** Jungle Drums
CD: Toumastin (Glitterhouse, Indigo April 2011)
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