Music in Exile

You know this is the shit I’m here for

Clearly inspired by the late, great Ali Farka Touré, Songhoy Blues brings the same unstoppable energy to their music that made Ali so influential. "Music in Exile" is powerful and moving in a way that modern American blues so often isn't. The electric tones of Muddy Waters and Albert King find whole new dimensions when they're shaped and guided by the unexpected rhythms and patterns of Malian music. It's a whole vibe and I couldn't be more here for it. I don't understand a word that's being said and I don't care. This is just so damn good.

Something about African rock always excites me—these distant cousins just sound right together. This record really succeeds in incorporating western influences in a natural way, on top of the Malian Blues that’s already an exciting hybrid. There is also a lot of variety here, from the rock focused Soubor to the Ali Farka Toure influenced Wayei to the acoustic Petit Metier. Musicianship is great, vocals are great. Plus the record is an act of defiance against repression and religious fundamentalism, so what more could you ask for?

Desert blues, you say? Also known as Tishoumaren, you say? Tishoumaren , which is based on a french word meaning 'Unemployed', you say? EXILES YOU SAY? Five stars, I say.

I used to get a lot of mileage out of "Soubour" in my spinning classes. I like the driving beat and bluesy, guitar-up-front sound, as well as the fact they all sing. The song-writing is good. They stick to their style but the songs vary enough to keep it interesting. I only listened to it once, so I'll assume I would have liked it even more second time round.

vibrant music from Mali, swinging and righteous

This is by far the best non-English language album I’ve gotten on this list so far. It’s exactly my type of blues rock and every song is a banger from start to finish but especially soubour and petit metier. Even if I can’t understand I can feel the political message through the music and that’s just the icing on the cake for a great album; would kill to hear it live. Also, this has been a great run of albums the past week or two

I didn't hate it you know. A bit like that Chesterfield Middlesbrough Fa Cup semi final in 1997.

Musically this was great, and I am sure based on the wiki that this tells a great story, however partly due to the language barrier it wasn't for me

This is an absolutely stellar album. A while back on this list, I get Savane by Ali Farka Touré, and this album reminded me a lot of that, which makes sense as they were influenced by him. It's really cool to see people from all over the world pick up American Blues Rock and make it their own. The guitar work on the album is incredible, both intricate and filled with emotion. I've been lamenting recently that I've been getting a lot of albums that are cool and significant, but aren't worthy of 5 stars on first listen. This album cured that. I loved the sound of it from the beginning of the first song, and every song after that was great, and then the album ended and I was sad 5/5

this is belting. they're all called toure or dembele so they're probably fucking mint at football too. does this mean i'm a world music guy now? man i'm old. what time is giles peterson on?

This was a nice album, reminded me a bit of Power of One. Not sure why it's on this list but glad it is just for the variety and it not being a british rock band.

This is something I would never have been aware of but for this project. The mix of “desert blues” and rock is remarkable, I absolutely love it! I was drawn to this immediately and each listen opens up more of this to me. The guitars are amazing. Reading the backstory of the group it is amazing how joyful music about dislocation and trauma can be. So glad to have encountered this!

Only need to hear the first 2 songs to see that I was going to enjoy this album. Amazing discovery!!!

These guys know how to play! Too often the blues can be boring, but these guys know how to tear it up. The language barrier is detrimental unfortunately. It’s not their fault, but I am the one doing the ranking. So the lack of my understanding the words prevents me from truly understanding the whole package. One thing I did pick up on is that the lyrics were often repetitive. From a not knowing the language point of view, I think the repetition would be more of a negative if I did know the language. One last comment on the fuckers who ran these guys out of their homeland. What kind of asshole do you have to be to not realize what a treasure their music is? This part of their story bumps them up a 1/2 star.

An early example of the safe bet desert blues a sizeable swathe of music crit publications still have an appetite for. Distinctly Saharan sans any especially peculiar instruments or tones, and, crucially, containing nothing to threaten sacred ideas of what constitutes rock and pop. Not knocking the group, just the framework for sticking them in the pantheon. This is nice. Try the Dakhla Sahara Session from Cheveu and Group Doueh from roughly the same time for a more incendiary and politically-charged example of the same kind of music.

Ah, this was brilliant. So laid-back and enjoyable.

Great album. It's rare that I fall in love with something on the first listen, but this did it for me!

Yeah, I loved this - could happily listen to Mali's desert blues all day! Super interesting to hear fragments of rock n roll picked up and woven into their own tradition. Fave track - "Soubour" is a great opener. "Wayei" for something on the chiller side...

Oddly catchy and enjoyable. I liked the album and would listen again.

ЧЁРНОЕ НА БЕЛОМ КТО-ТО БЫЛ НЕ ПРАВ Я ВНЕПЛАНОВЫЙ СЫН АФРИКАНСКИХ ТРАВ

Brabos

I don't know their language. But listening to this I could hear protest, heartbreak, confussion, happiness. Everything was genuine and compelling. I liked the music as well. This was worth the listen

Sometimes it's nice listening to musics in languages I don't know for the poetry of the sound. I found that I was able to appreciate the voice as an instrument rather than vocals since I didn't know what was being said. I thought the rest of the music was also easy to listen to and enjoy. I wasn't expecting blues music from west Africa but I can see myself coming back to this one.

Great recommendation that I would not have discovered on my own

Another hidden gem, this was great.

sounded like Muddy Waters went overseas

After a week of receiving dubious albums this was a nice surprise. I'm a big fan of music from Mali but there's no delicate string sounds of the Kora here, this is predominantly pretty heavy blues infused electric guitar. Wiki shows that they started out covering Ali Farka Toure, but despite having the same surname there isn't any relation. I guess Toure is the Smith of Mali. I shake my head when I read that many folks dismissed this album because they don't understand the lyrics. I guess they're also the same folks that also don't watch foreign flicks with subtitles. Oh well, their loss, they're missing out on some pretty soulful and glorious music.

An interesting melding of Eastern music and American Blues. I really did not care for it overall. I think the musicianship was fine but I did not care for the vocals. I liked "Soubour" and "Nick" but the rest of the songs were just meh. I feel like this album would not be included in the list if it weren't for the Band's backstory and the obstacles they overcame to create their music.

This is #day60 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge. While I sympathize with the band's backstory and the hurdles they had to overcome before creating music, I agree that this album wouldn't have made it to the list otherwise. Generally, I don't mind blues, but this... I just can't relate to what I hear on this album. Maybe I'm numb. Sorry, this is a one-off experience for me. I'm giving it a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to # day 61.

I love the beats in the entire album. Even though I don't understand the words, the music is great. Loved it.

Superb!

Amazing album with deep blues roots altough the group being from Africa. Arrangments are gold fussioning blues with their native african sounds making it sonetthing fresh. Love it and males me want to learn the la guage to understand it.

This was some fantastic music that I would have never found outside the 1001 project! Easy to listen to, great sound production. Such an easy 5/5 from me

Epische vind, ik wil naar Mali

Oh, Album Generator, why can't you be like this more often!? Bloody fantastic! Fits right in between the mystical madness of BKO's "Djine Bora" and the folksy, more sparse side of this music on N'Gou Bagayoke's "Kulu", two other great albums I gladly discovered this year. Go listen! Totally goes into the collection (will skip "Nick" every time, though, those drums can fuck off.).

Man, I love Afrorock bands. There's a soul and rhythm to this form that's difficult to find these days. Music In Exile also has the spirit of a protest record which is a common thread among African recording artists.

I need to see them live immediately. Music that makes me smile and dancing not an option.

Awesome

Loved this one when it was new, and again now. Fantastic groove all the way through. Great backstory, too.

This was a joy to hear again Love this one.

very enjoyable to listen to, especially when working since it's not in English. loved it. similar sounding guitar to the black keys.

Wow!

I really enjoyed this album - loved the rhythm of the album across the riffs and drums - and after reading about some of their story and a few translated lyrics this is a 5

Didn't understand a word. Didn't need to. This was awesome.

Exceptional album. After listening I went and listened to everything by them, including their NPR Tony Desk Concert.

I enjoyed listening to this music. 5

This is rad

This was an amazing find.

hell yea

Very cool, the kind of thing I wouldn't have come across without this list.

Right from the beginning, this blew me away. I think it's fair this group has a style where they crush the instrumentals with a rock or blues lick, the singer sings the name of the song, and the backing vocals echo him back. But it's just so great and it's nothing I would have found on my own. Soubour is an awesome opener, though I think my favorite was Jolie.

interesting fusion. blues. rock. international

Goated

No lo conocía, pero me gustó mucho. Sin duda volveré a escuchar esta banda. Bello e hipnótico sonido.

I wish I could remember when I first heard this. I think it was my first intro to “world music”, and it’s still got that same magnetic charm now. I love this and all the musical doors it opened up for me. Three cheers and five stars!

Brilliant! I wish I could understand the lyrics but the music ace it.

Classic rock sound, loved it.

I haven't checked yet but I got the feeling that these guys are from the same region as Mdou Moctar, and will be the second Tuareg guitar band Ive gotten into... I've checked, and they come from the country next door, 30 hours by car. Listened to it 3 times today, loving it, an now gonna look for more bands from the region. Listened to it twice more, looking for the vinyl now so I can take it to vinyl night at The Grand Trunk (my local bar)

This is what I love about the 1001 list/app: finding a great album that I've never listened to or heard of. Music in Exhile is a great example of this. I love the guitar playing on this. It's like a highlife guitarist was dropped into a blues band. Highly recommended! Liked songs added: - Soubour - Sekou Oumarou - Nick

Clearly inspired by the late, great Ali Farka Touré, Songhoy Blues brings the same unstoppable energy to their music that made Ali so influential. "Music in Exile" is powerful and moving in a way that modern American blues so often isn't. The electric tones of Muddy Waters and Albert King find whole new dimensions when they're shaped and guided by the unexpected rhythms and patterns of Malian music. It's a whole vibe and I couldn't be more here for it. I don't understand a word that's being said and I don't care.

The driving, relentless force of the Desert Blues! Some do it spacier, but none do it rockier!

I love the opening track. This album is fantastic. This is a must listen.

This is as fantastic. I have no idea what they said, but what a great sound.

Brutal

5/5 - excellent and followed on nicely from a deep dive into Desert Blues

Loved it all the way through

Great music

A great album! This album proves that you don’t need to understand the lyrics to enjoy good blues! Upbeat and catchy!

A+. No notes. Excellent vibes. Great emotion. No clue what they are saying but I love it.

Didn't know that I needed this in my life. The hook is so catchy, I'm really into it.

Incredible. If you’re a fan of American blues, then you’re bound to appreciate this gem. The incorporation of Malian music is delightful, and it is, in fact, what allows the blues to transcend on this record.

Vibey as fuck

Vibe 100

Wall to wall bangers. This is why I'm doing this.

Unexpectedly driving and amazing.

I think this was the most interesting album yet. The band is described as "Desert Blues" and they are writing music about being pushed out of their homes in Mali by Ansar Dine. The songs itself are a blend of a modern sound (I don't know anything about North African Desert Blues) and old-school blues. Some songs could have fit on the Cream record from a few days ago. Petit Metier and Soubour were my favorite songs. I've added the entire album to my Liked Songs playlist. This is the first album that I feel like I would truly never have heard had I not started this album journey. 9/10

Before knowing the backstory of Songhoy Blues, I just thought it was great guitar music and wished I understood what they were singing. Reading about them, it’s a must listen and I think they’re heroic. Preserving their culture with such a context is amazing. I love this band and will come back to it.

I'm gonna be honest I didnt know what to expect and was afraid I would dislike it a lot. But listening to this was very fun and surprisingly relaxing I will deffinitely be checking more of there music

Oh WOW! What madman thought of combining really well played R&B music with, what sounded like, traditional African vocals. Whoever it was, they're a F@#K*#G genius.

really enjoyed this

That was very nice! I always like it when some non western music shows up here. Very cool

And this album is I guess the reason we’re all doing this website, to find little gems you’ve never heard of and wouldn’t have found on your own. Absolutely loved this. I have heard a couple of ‘African desert rock’ artists before, for example Mdou Moctar who’s pretty cool. But for whatever reason the combination of this style of vocals and beats with the western blues guitar with the African twist totally rocked for me. Just a great groove that brought a massive smile to my face. Soubour and Nick absolute highlights. Who knew the Blues had new life in it yet. Must have listened 7-8 times today, thoroughly looking forward to checking out the rest of their back catalogue.

Big slay. guitar is so amazing. It feels so so classic American blues, which is amazing against the vocals. Sekou oumarou one of my faves. Love love love how the albums gets more folky towards the second half, like Petit mertier.

I can’t believe this came out in 2015. Love to hear something new

Funky and fantastic.

Stunning. Must watch the documentary about these guys!

two songs in and ive never heard of these guys but theyre great!! really good stuff and really fun. i wish i had listened to this while not in bed. this would go hard as a movie soundtrack. definitely will listen again. i feel like my dad might like this.

Holy fuck, what a surprise this was! Dudes are from Mali, and they call this genre of music Desert blues. It has their traditional African music mixed with blues. It's fucking amazing Dudes formed in Bamako after being forced to leave their homes in Timbuktu due to civil conflicts and the imposition of Sharia law. In 2012 the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad took control of the North of Mali. In turn, they were pushed out by Ansar Dine, a jihadist group which banned cigarettes, alcohol, and music. The guitarist, Garba Toure was forced to leave his home and moved to Bamako. Together with the other members of the band, they formed to "recreate the lost ambience of the North and make all the refugees relive those northern songs" There is a documentary called They Will Have to Kill Us First in which they are featured as one of the primary subjects of the film. ... And we think we have it bad sometimes! ..... Fuckin hell of a story!! I can't imagine being told that I can't listen to music. What a sad and horrible life that would be! Props to these dudes for finding a way to make the music they love! This album is amazing!! Favourite songs: Soubour, Nick, Al Hassidi Terei, Al Tchere Bele, Irganda, Sekou Oumarou, Jolie, Petit Metier, Wayei, Desert Melodie, Mali Least favourite songs: none 5/5

Great study music

Finally,someone new to me to add to my list to follow....5 stars all day long

It's a five from Clive. This is what the list is all about. Give the people what they want. And they want Malian desert blues from Timbuktu.

This album is why I use lists like this. So good.

2015! I think that's the most recent album we've got. Looks like Julian Casablancas's Cult Records co-released this album in North America which is super cool. Damon Albarn and Nick Zinner, the guitarist from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs also had a hand in this album. The opener is a super groovy banger. The guitarist is absolutely ripping through the whole album. I love the off-kilter groove on "Ai Tchere Bele". I'm very glad I went back and listened to this one because it slaps, I will have to revisit it.

Great album to expand your horizons.this is great blues and I need to look up the lyrics but the music was fantastic!

this is amazing!!!!!!!! blues, rock, african vibes, all rolled into one awesome sound! african math rock?! omg, its great!

This was unexpectedly awesome!!!

Never heard them before. Really enjoyable

Loved! Great blues work throughout loves especially some of the stilted/less 2/4 beats laid down. virtuoso guitar

Wonderful, even if I only understood a fraction of the lyrics!