Mdou Moctar


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Anar (2008), 6/10
Sousoume Tamachek (2017), 6.5/10
Ilana The Creator (2019), 6.5/10
Afrique Victime (2021), 6.5/10
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Niger's singer-songwriter and guitarist Mahamadou Souleymane, aka Mdou Moctar, performed a sort of Tuareg version of freak-folk on Anar (2008) and the live Afelan (2013). Tahoultine (2014) was his catchiest single yet. He basically turned to blues-rock on Sousoume Tamachek (2017), which contains generally longer songs: an extended version of the languid lullaby Anar, the litany Sousoume Tamachek with an intricate interplay of guitar and percussion, the almost psychedelic Tanzaka, the subdued Illmouloud, the funereal and trance-y Allagh N-tarha, and the simpler singalong Amidini.

Ilana The Creator (2019) contains the syncopated melodic blues-rock of Asshet Akal and especially his tour de force Tarhatazed for distorted space guitar. The main problem is that melodies and rhythms tend to repeat themselves throughout the album.

Afrique Victime (2021) tried to sell his virtuoso guitar playing to the Western masses with the catchy singalong Tala Tannam, the joyful romp of Chismiten, and especially the seven-minute rocking invocation Afrique Victime (another guitar tour de force).

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