Tinariwen

Einlass: 19 Uhr
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Tinariwen's music transports listeners across vast landscapes, both geographical and cultural. With evocative imagery, their melodies conjure images of Tuareg nomads traversing the endless Sahara, resonating with the spirit of cowboy drifters roaming the wild frontier of the Old West. The echoes of guitars around campfires, singing tales of loss and longing, bridge the thousands of miles between the desert blues of Tinariwen and the heartfelt narratives of authentic country music in rural America.

In their ninth studio album, "Amatssou," Tinariwen embarks on a journey to explore the shared sensibilities of these distant yet interconnected musical traditions. Here, banjos, fiddles, and pedal steel intertwine seamlessly with the band's signature guitar lines and hypnotic grooves, blurring the boundaries between continents and cultures.

The genesis of "Amatssou" traces back to an invitation from Jack White, a long-time admirer of Tinariwen's work, to record in Nashville. However, the onset of the global pandemic thwarted the band's plans for travel. Undeterred, a revised strategy emerged, with Grammy-winning producer Daniel Lanois and a select group of American country musicians venturing to Africa instead, immersing themselves in the desert environment that inspires Tinariwen's creativity.

Against the backdrop of Djanet, an oasis nestled in the southern Algerian desert within the Tassili N'Ajjer National Park, Tinariwen erected a makeshift studio. Amidst ancient rock formations and dramatic sandstone vistas, the band, joined by collaborators from afar, embarked on the recording process. Despite logistical challenges posed by the pandemic, modern technology facilitated collaboration across continents, preserving the integrity of the project.

Lanois' ethereal pedal steel and crystalline production infuse tracks like "Arajghiyine" and "Jayche Atarak" with a transcendent quality, while contributions from musicians like Fats Kaplin and Wes Corbett add depth and texture to Tinariwen's sonic tapestry. The album's title, "Amatssou," meaning "Beyond The Fear" in Tamashek, reflects the band's enduring spirit of fearlessness, echoing Bob Dylan's assertion that music has the power to embolden us in the face of adversity.

Embedded within the songs of "Amatssou" are poignant reflections on the contemporary realities of Tuareg life, from the ongoing political turbulence in Mali to the threats posed by extremist ideologies. Tinariwen's lyrics, steeped in poetic allegory, advocate for unity and freedom, amplifying the voices of their people amidst the tumult of the modern world.

As ambassadors for the Tuareg people and custodians of a musical tradition born from the desert sands, Tinariwen's message resonates with urgency on "Amatssou." Their music, rooted in sorrow and longing yet imbued with resilience and hope, serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of art to transcend boundaries and inspire change.


Veranstalter; prime entertainment GmbH
Fotocredit: Marie Planeille