Music in Exile

Oh yea this scratches that brain itch. Was actually sad when the album ended

Great. went in expecting "world music", got something completely unexpected. Haven't heard a blues/rnb record like it.

I thought it was ok. I have enjoyed the world music that's appeared on this list, and this was a nice listen, but not interesting enough to make me want to listen again or explore more. I enjoyed reading about them more than the music itself.

No idea what the songs are about but I love the sounds

Rimelig cool faktisk! 3 OK pæne stjerner

Bien.

Album No. 0226 on my list. „Music In Exile“ by Songhoy Blues is one of these albums where I’m really glad I’m doing the 1001 album program. I’m pretty sure I would have never discovered the music by Songhoy Blues without it, but I’m very lucky I have to be honest. I had no idea about what I was getting self into here, but “Music In Exile” is such a cool, interesting, and unique album, and one with a bittersweet backstory as well. Love the sound of this album, love this cool twist on blues rock, love the whole feel of it. Obviously, I have no idea what they’re singing about because I don’t speak Songhai (or French for that matter), but I still have the feeling that the music really speaks to me. There is something deep, emotional, yet still calm about this. And the album is really on point, everything feels very well timed. Not all songs have the same quality, but most of them are really good. I’ll add “Soubour”, “Al Hassidi Terri”, and “Petit Metier“ to my playlist. Will definitely listen to this again! 4/5 stars !

Like Tinariwen, in that their music is a sort of rebellion, and is protest music essentially. Not doing anything that different from TInariwen, but maybe unfair to judge on that. Overall a pleasant listen, good riff, melodies, well-produced.

I got into Mdou Moctar’s work a few years ago after coming across the Music from Saharan Cellphones compilation and a colleague recently introduced me to Bombino, so this is another great entry into my desert blues rotation. Not my favorite full album in the genre so far, but I’ll definitely be revisiting this.

I'm glad I got to experience an album that I would not have listened to normally. That being said, I would not have listened to this album normally. Fave track: Soubour

Surprisingly decent and lovely music. 4. This is why I am here - for gems like this I would never find otherwise.

Bien.

Oh man looooooved this. the only thing I have heard that I can compare it to is Ali Farka Toure's Savane album, and also Mdou Moctar. Something about those loops it just scratches an itch, goes so so perfectly with blues. their backstory is even crazier.

Yeah I feel like if you had to be kicked out of your house for playing music you can be capable of singing the blues. Gets kind of jumpy like John Lee Hooker, this has been such a fun listen from start to finish. Another one of those cool surprises from this list

increíble, de pana que increíble 10/10

African blues, similar to Tinariwen, very groovy.

Niet echt mijn muzieksmaak en luister eerlijk gezegd ook nooit naar zoiets, maar ik voel de vibe wel. Het klinkt wel allemaal een beetje hetzelfde, maar dat kan natuurlijk ook zijn omdat ik het niet ken, en vooral niet versta, waardoor ik niet echt onderscheid kan maken tussen de nummers. Maar ondanks dat is het wel een vibe. Oké, ik ben nu bij nummer 7 en ik ben er wel een klein beetje klaar mee, maar we pakken door. Track 8 is bezig en die is wel nice. Deze is ook instrumentaal anders. Ben wel een klein beetje aan het aftellen. De gitaarintro van track 10 is goed; de rest van het nummer is ook chill. Het verhaal achter de muziekgroep is wel heel erg mooi. Het laatste nummer voelt ook wel een beetje zo, als iets kleins dat moed moet brengen en mensen bij elkaar brengt. Favorite Track: Petit Metier of Mali Overall rating: 2.5/5

Very enjoyable & a bit different for me

Awesome stuff.

No es lo mio

wait no this bangs a hell of a lot?!?!? I'm actually a huge fan of this??!?! really cool fusion of western instruments and Songhoy language and harmonies. bangers all the way down.

они тут только потому что бежали от гражданской войны и записали альюом на чужбине. Музыка то средняя.

Definitely a great pull for this list. Gotta love hearing music from areas of the world I would never typically discover. Excellent variety of sound and even though I have no clue what they are singing about because of the language barrier, this was a great listen.

A rocking opener and some really nice harmonies and good vibes all round. Many tracks added and will watch the film about them

Pretty good Mali rock! Probably liked it the closer it got to AfroBeat.

Of the entire pantheon of Sahel desert blues that I’ve listened to, this has to be up there as one of if not my favourite. That said it played into a song by Ali Farka Touré, and that was also a fun listen which could give it a run for the #1 spot. Have I discovered my new favourite world music genre?

Una banda de blues africano que tuvo la enorme suerte de ser presentados a nivel internacional por Damon Albarn. En la estela del albino Salif Keita, Ali Farka Touré, Amadou & Mariam, Toumani Diabaté o los tuareg Tinariwen. Como curiosidad los Songhai tienen entre sus descendientes a Morgan Freeman. Buena música, bien ejecutada. La incial Soubour marca los parámetros del disco. Al Hassidi Terei es otra muestra de fuerza. Sekou Oumarou es más relajada pero no pierde potencia. Petit Metier es world music de la buena.

"desert blues" is such a fun genre name. These records are what this little adventure is for! Repetitive at times but maybe it's because I can't appreciate the lyrics.

Being kicked out of your hometown to play the blues is the most stereotypical musician trope I can think of. Not saying it's bad, just something I would expect.

Not going to lie....I kind of dug it. Obviously couldn't understand the lyrics, but the fact that I still liked it is an indicator that it was pretty strong.

Bravely answers the question "what if you wanted to listen to The Black Keys but had a policy of only listening to artists from Mali."

Such a cohesive album, and great song variety. Some absolute bangers that are added to the rotation

A testament to the fact that music is a universal language. I didn’t need to understand a word of it to enjoy every moment of it.

Lovely. Desert Melodie is truly incredible. It’s rhythmically confusing in a way that just works. This group executes with a level of creativity that other bands only dream of.

I like the use of modern guitar interspersed in here a lot.

Vaca catch up

Listening to the first song, I was like, “OK, good guitars and interesting rhythms, but nothing to get too excited about.” But the next song had AMAZING guitars and every song after was a little different but really good. At the end, I wouldn’t say I was blown away by the album but it was very solid and the guitars stood out as excellent in almost every song.

Pretty awesome, made me google "Desert blues".

Nice! This is another first-listen-ever for me. I have an idea of what to expect as I've listened to other artists from Mali and Senegal and Algeria like Ali Farka Toure (direct ties here) and Tiniarwen. The rhythmic groove of this desert blues band is infectious from the start. Have you ever looked at Timbuktu on a map? I mean, I know it's used as a reference to remoteness - but wow - remote is an understatement. For something as lively as this music to grow out of the literal desert is remarkable. "Al Hassidi Terei" really cooks. The blues influence is strong in the intro of track 4, "Sekou Oumarou." Repetition is key in this music - like in minimalism - so that when a change happens in the texture, the timing, the vocals, the percussion, etc., it feels very significant. There is also some afro-beat / Fela Kuti influence showing through in places on these tracks. I love the complex polyrhythms in "Ai Tchere Bele" - it sounds too busy at first, but if you really focus on the various drum parts, the larger picture emerges. The closer, "Mali" is gorgeous and shows how the complex rhythmic structures of this music can be stripped down to a single guitar & voice and still have the distinctive drive of the full band. Exceptional. I'm so happy that this was on the list - I may have never discovered it otherwise. 4 stars.

This has all the vibes you're looking for. Would happily listen again.

Hooray for some diversity! I enjoyed this.

There are a few interesting elements to this album. Al Hassidi Terei has a fantastic and original drum pattern and the acoustics of the song gives a menacing undertone to a jaunty tune. However, while it is an intriguing mix of Blues music and African rhythms and vocal arrangements, it gets samey from song to song and very repetitive within a lot of the songs, and that's not my bag. There's nothing that I felt compelled to skip, but the only songs that I'd go back to again are the aforementioned, and Weyei, which should be retitled Wonder Bunny. A low 3 stars.

I didn’t dislike it but did I have to hear it before I died?

Live the energy is this, great album to listen to. I've noticed that my 'world music' ratings are often higher than UK or US music ratings. This is a sad consequence of the original list, world music has a much higher bar to achieve before it's included in the list, i.e. it's got to be awesome before it's included. Another argument for the mass removal of Deely Stan and Elvis Fkn Costello. Do yourself a favour and listen to the Songhoy Boys.

Different genre for me. Solid.

Really enjoyable sound.

I like the bluesy guitar riffs and solos. 3.6/5

3.5

Honestly loved this. Kind of wish I knew what the lyrics said, but really really enjoyed the music. One of those occasions where I haven’t heard of something at all and thoroughly liked it

Very cool sound.

This is a tough one. A good backstory can give cred to a piece of art. The issue I’m having is even though I’ve never heard this particular band, I have listened to “African Rock” compilations and I’m having a hard time hearing what separates this from the rest. Maybe it’s because I don’t speak the language. All to say, I liked what I heard but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting it.

This was different and interesting, a little repetitive though.

A good listen, even if I don’t know what they’re saying…although that’s not that different than many songs that are in English. Cool guitar on this. I don’t typically love this type of singing but these wasn’t as extreme as some others. All and all, interesting but not sure I’ll come back or go deeper. 2.5

Surprisingly awesome! Got a little repetitive but rounding up for the surprise factor. 3.5/5

Overall: 6/10 Lots of genres going on here, but there's a definite rock atmosphere to the whole thing that I really enjoyed. I won't be listening to it too much, but its worth your time. Fav Song: Nick

Hip still moving as I type this

Came into this one not knowing what to expect. The Wiki is non-existent for this album. The opening track, Soubour, however instantly drew me in. I added that and Irganda to the playlist. I have no idea what they're saying, but the tunes are fire.

My thoughts echo the sentiments of the other positive reviews here. Sounds great. A pleasant surprise. Vibrant music. Talented musicianship. Pleasant vocals. The Wikipedia article reads like something from many decades ago, but is actually recent history. Unfortunate that there are forces in this world that would ban music.

So it turns out that I really like Malian blues. Go figure. Amadou et Mariam could have been an anomaly but this is now a pattern, and I really did enjoy it. There is a unique quality to the rhythm and the sound of the guitars, and the overall vibe is very easy to listen to.

Songhoy Blues got the 1001 nod, but not Tinariwen or Etran de L’Air? Regardless, this is a great album.

The only thing more compelling then the riffs on this album is the musicians’s story.

4.24. Solid B. A little monotonous

This is exactly the kind of discovery that makes this project worthwhile. I had never listened to Songhoy Blues before, and Music in Exile grabbed me almost immediately. The best way I can describe it is blues with international flair. The album combines the African music and rhythms I already love with some killer blues-rock guitar. “Soubour” hooked me right away, “Irganda” leaned more heavily into the African sound, and “Al Hassidi Terei” brought both sides together beautifully with some fantastic guitar riffs. “Nick” was another standout. The chanting and percussion gave it an almost communal feel, and I absolutely loved it. “Ai Tchere Bele” had a similar quality, with vocal rhythms that even reminded me of some Celtic music I've heard. Different cultures and musical traditions, yet my ears kept finding fascinating little connections between them. The second half gets softer and more vocal-focused. Since I don't understand the language, there were moments when I felt I would probably appreciate the songs even more if I understood the lyrics. But the performances, rhythms, and overall sound were strong enough that the language barrier didn't keep me from enjoying them. Most importantly, the album never fell apart in the second half. “Petit Métier” and “Jolie” didn't hit me quite as hard as the early standouts, but they were still good songs, and the acoustic ending was a beautiful way to close the album. I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Songhoy Blues and came out wanting this record in my collection.

Great tunes and talent thx

ok

Nice African mix of blues and traditional music.

Resumindo a ópera, grupo Jihadista lunático proibiu música e todas as outras coisas belas e nobres da vida, como aquele povo costuma fazer, e esses caras se exilaram e gravaram um disco. Aqui está o resultado. História brilhante, e uma incrível inclusão aqui na lista. Um bom lembrete de porque fazemos esse feito maluco de escutar 1001 álbuns. Há gemas escondidas como essa. Para além do contexto histórico da gravação, o som do disco em si também é bem agradável. Nada revolucionário, apenas um Blues Rock moderno bem executado. Muitas seções boas, vocais interessantes apesar de eu não entender o idioma. Gostei de conhecer. 4/5

African rock? I'm not even sure, but sign me up.

Love Mali. And new!

This was alright but somewhat forgettable, a lot of it felt like music I've heard in unskippable YouTube ads.

Im genuinely sorry i found this so irritating

Ok

Nice beats!

Interesting blend of rock/blues rythym and African lyrics.

Na, malisimo mal. 2/10

Incredible genre. Blues is at its foundation but so much more vibrant. It is entrancingly repetitive, the bass bops and the vocals match the vibe so well. Will definitely explore further in the desert blues style

Fun guitar licks but wish I could understand the words

low 3... not bad just not for me

1. Soubour is off to a good start actually 2. Irganda sounds hella familiar like it’s in a game or something 7. Wayei , I’m not mad at it! I don’t know if this is something I’d seek out and put on but it blended into the background nicely and the sounds are happy, the album brings a good feeling, I’m not sure if that’s the intention though.

Not my favorite. But I enjoy the way this sounds like country but from a different country.

Out of a brutal backstory come some rousing rhythms.

2.5 I appreciate the social commentary of the band and what they did to overcome their difficulties. The language barrier was a detractor for me. I did notice the desert blues that has grown as a genre

I’m happy that this is an album. I never heard of although I didn’t understand it. I enjoyed it. 2.7.

Loved it, the bass lines are so good. Reading up on the band and holy shit. Best Song: Soubour Rating: 7/10 Stars: 4

Wow, that was quite a find! One of the things I love about music, is finding something new. I love the fusion of African and Western music (shout-out to Paul Simon for Graceland and Afro Celt Sound System for all their albums!). So, I really liked this album. It's not perfect, but it put a smile on my face, and had me going down a rabbit hole learning more about Songhoy Blues and their backstory. Soubour, Sekou Oumarou and Nick stood out, but I enjoyed them all. Very solid 4, maybe 4.5.

It’s got a great mix of blues and rock, and has a brilliant energy to it throughout. That alone would be a solid 3. What really made it stand out for me, was the story behind it. The conflict, at a time when music was being banned there, made the album feel that bit more special, and the blues feel more of a method of resistance. I was vaguely aware of it at the time, but never listened to it. I'm glad I have now. So it elevated it to a 4.

I already love Mdou Moctar. Now I love Songhoy Blues too. Exactly what I needed.

gibberish. at least it was rhythmic (2.5/5)

A good album. Unfortunate that I cannot understand the language, I can tell this was made with a lot of emotion and background to it.

Haven’t listened to yet and I’m sure it’s great but need the next album

Track By Track Soubour - This is a lot more rocky than I expected! I can hear Ali Farka Touré’s influence pretty much straight away. A cool groove for sure. Irganda - It’s a shame I can’t review the lyrics without going through a translator which may not give an accurate translation. Would be interested to know what they’re saying in some of these. This is a quite good one with nice guitar licks/runs. Al Hassidi Terei - I tend to enjoy the slower ones on these kinds of albums. There’s a hypnotic quality to the guitar looping around like that. This one picks up though as well which I also liked. Good rhythm changes in the vocal melody. Sekou Oumarou - This is my favourite one so far. Really nice rhythms and arrangement. More spare and sparse, which I like quite a bit. A good groove. Nick - Ode to the guitarist I think. Definitely more of a fast paced blues feel to this one, mixed with their chorus vocals. Quite nice. Although it is feeling a tad repetitive by this point! Tasty solos though I must admit. Ai Tchere Bele - Nice guitar intro. I always dig these kinds of licks. Again, very mesmeric almost, like a chant or something. Wayei - A nice continuation of the vibe. Good filler kind of track. Petit Metier - This is a nice little stripped back number. More acoustic. Feels more homely or intimate. I like that it builds gradually. Jolie - Another mesmeric one. Goes nicely in the tracklist. Enjoying the chilled groovy vibe of this one actually. Desert Melodie - Lives up to its name. The guitar evokes the desert feel quite well. Got some hints of tenderness in this one as well, towards the end. Mali - Heard this was about their home. It’s does sound like an ode. Very sweet and their tenderness really comes through on this closer. Overall Review: This album grew on me as I listened. I don’t generally listen to whole albums of this kind of genre. Also my education in it has been limited to Farka Touré and similar artists. There were parts where I felt it was a little repetitive, but as I listened I was lulled into the hypnotic vibe of this kind of music. Very sweet and I felt its heart by the end. Whilst this is not something I would usually go for, I did rate this fairly high. 3.4/5 Favourite Songs: Sekou Oumarou, Petit Metier, Mali

Definitivt en vibe men jag tröttnar på energin tillslut

Honestly I see the vision. But I don’t remember the details

did not enjoy. never wanna hear this again

Beautiful guitar work, enjoyed this one a great deal.

Fun and different

I liked the fusion going on in this album

After a few very blah albums in a row I'd hoped I was due for something at least interesting. And that's what I got today. I'd never heard of Songhoy Blues or knew anything about their story. I was intrigued after reading a little bit about them. I've also generally liked the world music selections on the list. This was a very enjoyable listening experience from the start. The first few songs were upbeat and catchy, even though I have no idea what they were singing about. It slowed down towards the end, but I didn't mind as I was already in the groove by then. Standouts were Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei, Wayei, and Mali.

I remember listening to Soubour when this came out and loving it. I think I listened to the album once back then but somehow lost track and forgot about them. Glad this list reminded me about it. I'll def keep it on rotation along with Tinariwen.

Not my thing, but also glad this is here!