Music in Exile

I am all for expanding my horizons when it comes to music. It's easy to get caught in the trap of only listening to music from a select few countries, but there are so many unique scenes in other parts of the world that add some new flavor to what one might be used to. I wish I could say that more so about Music in Exile, and while it certainly has a unique sound, I lost interest in that sound pretty quickly. The call-and-response style vocals combined with the groovy percussion works pretty well, but for this album in particular I think it gets old fast, mostly due to the lack of variation. I am glad that Music in Exile is at least represented on this list, it gave me something to listen to that I've never heard of before. Soubour is a great opener and a fun song to get you into their sound. Obviously I don't speak the language, so I can't really analyze this lyrically, but from what I could experience it lacked depth overall. Nonetheless special in its own way, at least for a little bit.

To be completely honest, most of my knowledge of African music revolves mostly around Fela Kuti and a few Mbaqanga comps I've heard. This is more of a guitar blues record with Malian influence. It's very repetitive, not in a drony way, but repeating patterns and riffs throughout the song. Vocally it has almost a call and response style where the main vocalist sings a line or lines, and then they are repeated as a group. As a blues guitar record this really isn't for me, and it's more interesting when they lean into their African roots, specifically on the album's closer, Mali. Not adding to the collection.

Really vibed with the first song, and then the rest flew by in a more forgettable fashion. Likely one i won’t go back to.

It’s ok.

The sound is quality, and it seems upbeat. Feels like an album I should enjoy, but honestly not really a fan. I think it's because the songs sound the same the entire way through with seemingly little variation. Skipping through the songs and changing to different parts of them make them all blur together and sound like they have the same formula.

Off the cuff remark: completely new to me and I was initially intrigued by the seeming meeting of genres but with a lack of variety this quickly fell away. Reasonably listenable but just a bit lacking.

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.

Rating: 0.0 Pawn Stars or Chrome Valley Customs theme song music. Doesn’t matter that it’s done by some guys from a third world country. A hotel bar would be too good for this schlock. Absolutely horrible. Whoever platformed this (JULIAN CASABLANCAS) needs to be investigated, he may be harboring even worse music on his laptop or something.

Bunch of losers can't tell a groove when it's not in English

Enjoyed this album. This is a style I never would have come across on my own.

A great discovery

не было доступно нигде, кроме одной песни. послушала Ali Farka Tuore с которым тут сравнивают. Сказочно. Надо переслушать все

Imagine having to move because the new regime bans music....

tosta oli niiiin mielenkiintosta lukea

This is the stuff we've all been looking for

Holy cow, did I love this one. So much energy, so much life. Never would have gone looking for it but this is going into heavy rotation.

This recording completes a circle of influence spanning from the traditional African rhythms that influenced the American invention of the blues only to be taken as a reference point for a traditional Malinese guitar band. When the first few bars played, a straightforward down-tempo blues riff standard, I fretted (intended) that this would be another melancholy blues affair bereft of anything new. I’m so glad to have been quickly proven wrong. When the rhythm drops you know you’re in fresh territory. “Blues” is only a useful framework on with to hang these vibrant tapestries, but their sound is so much more. Rhythmically adventurous, inventive time signatures, infectious vocals, fierce guitar. This album is pretty sigma not gonna lie. It starts fantastic. I’d give my third eye to play guitar like the first three tracks. However it does dial down the awesome a bit in the second act. Still it closes strong. The last track may be one of my favorites. Exceptional.

Oh yeah, tear that pussy up

Deep, rich, raw and full of energy. Combines 2 of my favourite musical themes: mid-century US electric guitar blues and 2000s African folk fusion

This album was great! Traditional African by way of electronic blues rock (or maybe the other way around). I like the opening track the most; it absolutely slaps. The album actually seems to move from blues rock toward the closing track, Mali, which feels much more traditional. Really fascinating album.

A great band I’d forgotten about. Saw their live show at Glastonbury around the time this album came out. Thank you for bringing their grooves back to me!

African rock? Hell yeah. Their wiki summary is so hard rock. Bluesy with african vibes. This is the kind of album I would have never heard of that I'm here for. 5*

I can honestly say that before today, I could count the amount of Malian artists I've listed to on zero hands. I started this and "Soubour" hit me like a truck. The guitar enters slowly and then speeds up, almost like an engine revving up. Then before you know it this song speeding down the road and your adventure has started. To be fair I thought this album being in Songhai would be an impediment, but all its done is made me scour the internet for some translations. Unfortunately I had almost no luck on that front only finding a translation for "Sekou Oumaru". Seriously though, that didnt matter to me, you can still feel every bit of emotion even without understanding the language. Also, a genre called desert blues is pretty much the coolest genre name ever coined.

Rate: 9.5/10.

This is why we do this list

This is what I was hoping for from this list! Something that I've never heard of and is awesome. Absolutely love the guitar playing, such unique and interesting phrasing. Will be adding this to my regular rotation. I haven't picked standout tracks for my 1001 playlist yet but it will definitely be from the first half of the album. Good stuff!

I'm so happy to find that this album is on this list! It's been one of my favorites for years.

this rules. i love when afro-(insert genre here) stuff like this pops up. hopefully there’s more. reminds me of tinariwen had a baby with fela kuti.

oh shit

Amazing opener! Sounds new and I love it

I knew this would be a 5 star album the moment the first song played. GYYYYAAAATTTTTYTT DDDAAAYYUMMMM THIS SHIT GOOD‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ Fav song: Soubour

this is going on repeat all day baby

rock africano? una cosa que no sabía que necesitaba increíble, y la historia de Mali detrás, realmente music in exile simplemente uau

Excellent album! Happy to have discovered this music!!

Songhoy Blues – Music in Exile (2015) Day 145 was decent and refreshing to hear something from the motherland. This album has a unique desert blues sound that is just great. The guitar work all around this project is a masterpiece, especially on "Soubour" and my personal favorite, "Al Hassidi Terei," which has an incredible groove, mood, and vibe. The range here is immense. "Nick" was great and felt much more refined than other tracks, while "Sekou Oumarou," "Wayei," and "Ai Tchere Bele" (especially "Ai") featured stellar guitar work. "Petit Metier" was another great standout, and "Jolie" showed off a beautiful, mellow vocal range. The inclusion of "Desert" and "Mali" further proved their vocal depth. Although it was a real tussle to actually find the album and save it for easy accessibility, and despite the language barrier, the music speaks for itself. An undeniable 5/5.

Loved it!!

I've been put into Mdou Moctar and Tinariwen, and I'm really excited to be able to put Songhoy Blues on for others!

I said at the start I don't want to be too liberal with 5s but this was so unique and full of sonic flavour. I would have never even known this record existed without this challenge so wahey

Absolute banger of an album!

Wow! This album absolutely slaps! Amazing blues rock tunes which you can get lost in.

This is cool, I hadn’t heard of them before!

Funtastic

😬

Loved this. This is what’s amazing about this project; getting to listen to stuff you would have never otherwise. My favs were Mali, Petit Metier, the Should I stay or should I go now cover and Kashmir.

This cured something inside me I didn't know needed healing

A great genre improved by this band

Seriously, much more like it 👌

This is what I signed up for! Up next on 600 punk albums from the 70s that could put you to sleep…

These guys are so cool!

Really, really good. Western style blues over a not so western style rhythm.

me gustó mucho, es un álbum lleno de historias y resiliencia y me encanta el mensaje que deja. "mientras haya música hay esperanza"

It is really interesting this type of music for me, 'cause it is very similar to a genre born here in Peru tht is called huayno and I love it

Surprenant

Idk what they're saying but I like the way they say it

YES MATE

Oh hell yeah, this is fantastic blues. Super fresh and groovy. Language barrier is absolutely no problem either. Gonna need to seek out more of this desert blues thing.

This was an interesting album, and I love international music. Obviously not knowing the language, I can't connect heavily to it, but that that's the beauty of music. It's one of the better albums I've had so far in this project, because I could return to it and find something new each time. Wonderful music to work to, the instruments are uplifting and resoundingly melodious.

Mesmo não entendendo as letras a vibe da música é muito boa

Greenbelt esque bangers

No lo conocía pero me gusta!!! Los voy a seguir en Spotify

Musical gold

??? Oh, desert blues, tuareg blues, aus Mali, so gut, blind fünfer...c

Idk what this is but its a 5/5

What a beautiful record. It is filled with soulful music that makes you want swing and miss a place you have never been to. I will have to give this record a few more listens with the translations at hand. This might be one of my favourite albums of this year and it is only March. Gems like these are the reason why I love 1001 albums

A Powerful album, with great musical strength built on a powerful message of heritage and the act of living life as resistance. This is one of those albums I am very happy to have learnt, and I am sure to check out more of their work and their story. Next to their story the music it also just slaps. Mixing bluesrock with their own cultural style, creating a wonderful style that feels both new and familiar to a western listener.

These boys I have heard before and boy have they got an infectious sound. It sits in the same sound world as bands like Khruangbin and other modern western outfits like them. Blues guitar grooves bound up with Arabic and Eastern influences results in absolutely hypnotising energy that I've listened two twice through back to back with ease. Sometimes it helps that you can't understand any of the lyrics because the unfamiliarity means you can process and enjoy it in quite a different way, without being distracted by outstanding lyrical poetry, or conversely terrible mundane dross. I have to assume these guys are singing the former, because I don't speak the language, but damn it sounds good.

This was amazing. The music itself is phenomenal. I read a bit into them, and now their message is even more profound to me. This album carries the legacy of their homeland, despite the oppression and the upheaval caused by the MNLA and Ansar Dine. Unquestionably a 5/5

Dope

I am admittedly a sucker for this ripping kind of tuareg guitar music- but this is not I think as significant a tinariwen? Either way does not really matter, this is unbelievably exciting and good blues. Damn. Musicianship great, vocals great, message and defiance against totalitarianism and the bravery of making this? Great.

Great riffs. Loved it

Each song is fantastic - unique and standalone but collectively make the overall sound of the album stand out as a fantastic showcase of the genre "dessert blues". This album feels very distinct to Mali and the Sahara dessert but the music could match the feel of the SW US, western China or even Antarctica. Just a great album

I have no idea what’s being said but I still feel like I understand it. Incredible guitar vibes. I really enjoyed this.

Hell yeah. Something I would have never experienced if not for this app! Seriously had me bumpin around. I will definitely be relistening to this.

?????!!!! FUCK YEAH, this was awesome!!! Don't know what I was expecting but definitely wasn't expecting this to be an album where I would end up liking all the tracks. Easiest and immediate four stars I've given. EDIT: Moved it to five stars now :)

It's not every day you get to experience a genre for the first time, and even less frequently are those new genre introductions this good. I don't understand a word of the Songhai dialect being spoken, but I really don't care, this absolutely slaps. It's like bluesy cajun music with a harder edge. The guitar play is so absurdly fun, and obviously the focal point of the band's sound, but there's constantly also little pieces of maraca or the woman in Wayei or whatever in the world is being played in the background of Sekou Oumarou that ground it so perfectly. I find it hard to describe the almost nostalgic feeling this music brings about for a place I've never even seen. It's a practically overripe fruit of a project that's dripping with soul. I can't get enough.

Yeah, this is some great stuff!

I remember when this album came out. I loved it then still love it now.

من افضل تجارب البلوز في حياتي قصه الالبوم كفاية تخليك تقدر تعبهم حتى لو ما تحب الجانرا

An album with soul, I couldn't understand a word, but I could feel that whatever they were saying was deep, spiritual and political. Sometimes you need to take a break from Western music, and listen to music with a greater purpose than just being the image and the star of the project, that's the real rock.

Great discovery

Yes! Something new and great! I loved this. I'm a big fan of desert blues, starting with Tinariwen a few years ago which then led to Mdou Moctar, all great artists. I can understand why this isn't everyone's cup of tea due to the language barrier, but let's be honest, most of us don't know the lyrics to half of English pop songs, I certainly can barely understand Nirvana, let alone global superstars like Sai or Bad Bunny for those of us who don't speak Korean or Spanish. The music speaks for itself, I don't need to know the words. This album hits nice and hard, give me more!

Great Album

So so good what a vibe they were throwing down, apparently Timbuktu punk

Total diamond in the rough here. This album stands as an icon against oppression, thus perfectly employing the blues medium. Because (to first-world citizens) it comes from an utterly foreign context, it succeeds at delivering a novel yet relatable listening experience, and compels listeners to empathize with the reality from which the artist sings to us. The outcome? A profoundly meaningful, even transcendental listening experience. I realize after listening to this one that, in order for an album to qualify as must-hear, it must first qualify as must-make. Having made this connection will undoubtedly change my approach to evaluating entries on this list from here on out. Under the circumstances, I sense that Songhoy Blues felt existentially compelled to create this work. I fundamentally believe that doing so remains the correct decision. Given its political motivations, and inherent statement of dissent, I posit that the value of this release meets, if not exceeds, the impact that RATM's self-titled debut carries. TLDR - 5/5, and redefines what deserves 5/5

Love it when something different comes up. Super groovy. I really enjoyed this.

I have all the time in the world for desert blues.

So glad this record is on this list. I've been a fan since it came out, theur next album Resistance was pretty good too but here's a great starting point to West African music.

Whatever I was expecting it wasnt this. It was brilliant, some good guitar in there. I didnt understand a word but was singing along anyway.

Totally new to me, fantastic find!

I was so worried when I saw the number of listens this album had on Spotify, but I came away pleasantly surprised. It’s really cool to hear music by non-western artists, and this style of blues sounds great. I’m a bit too generous with 5 star reviews and I know I’m gonna revise some of those in the future, and this album fits snuggly in the “5 right now and probably a 4 later” category.

The bluesy rift to kick off the album sets the tone and doesn't let up for 39 minutes. I really enjoyed this one, 5/5

Oh boy! I love when a band I've known a long time that is pretty obscure gets recognition somewhere like here! Hopefully others enjoy this; if so, I think their second album (Resistance) is especially worth a look! And in general the adoption of Blues music by Malian/Saharan "Desert Blues" musicians is a really cool micro-genre: check out Tinariwen and Ali Farka Toure. Ugh Review didn't save again. This is a great album; the mix of saharan and blues genres is really top. Particular Highlights are the opening track, Petit Metier, and Al Hassidi Terei. But I love the whole thing start to finish. Unapologetic five stars. I just wish my longer review had saved :(

Even if you hate the music, you must give this album a five. Why? Very simple. It's one of the few albums on this list you need to hear before you die? Why? Because you will learn something about music listening to this album. Because it is something very different to the rest of the album. Because it should be the reason for this list, i.e. to broaden your music knowledge. And if you already know a lot about Tuareg music you will probably like it anyway.

This is awesome and makes me wonder which other great albums could be on this list instead of all the other boring English ones...

Did my home work with this I hope it's in another language and it's not me being too tired to understand the lyrics Good shit

This needs to be listened to at least to know that this music exists.

Loved this. Not a typical genre for me but enjoyed it the whole time.

I loved this- a pleasant surprise

Helt fantastiskt! Kanske första gången nånsin som jag känner att det första spåret är det svagaste, men resten är verkligen toppen rätt igenom.

A second pass through really solidified this for me. The guitar riffs alone made this standout in a big way. I absolutely loved this album.

Desert Blues from Timbuktu in Mali. Loved this album.

Такие гемы всегда приятно находить. Этот альбом - это путешествие в жаркую Африку с хорошими людьми. Он очень интересен музыкально, очень самобытен и я рад, что он мне встретился, это просто отлично.

Found a new favorite. This was dope.

Fantastic!

This is great. Slightly different interesting take on blues and African music. Much better that Bonamassa or Vaughan for example. Perfectly approachable.Electric and acoustic: good lyrical and emotional content. Variety and general sense of hope and cheer and musicality well better than a lot of the industrial over produced stuff on this list.

that was great!

what an amazing album! loved this a lot. there were quite a few favourite songs but narrowing it down to the ones i loved the most it was; al hassidi terei and petit metier. 4.7/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖

The album art made me a little hesitant, but after listening to this album I am quite fond of it! Also did not expect Timbuktu.

New to me, but what an absolute blast. Great album

Blues rock originating from Timbuk-fucking-tu? Count me in. This right here is what this list is for. Non of that late 60's or 80's British New Wave BS. Some awesome music would have never heard of in a million years without this. Hell yeah. And it was cool to boot. 9/10. Can't wait to get punished by getting 10 albums in a row from 1968 where a bunch of dudes got high on LSD and tried to recreate the Beatles.

Really liked it and this album is the reason I joined this group. It broadened my horizon and introduced me to music I would have never listened to. Sure, this program has done that before. But in the past it has been some shitty band from Europe rock that has less than 100 monthly spotify listens that only made this list because they either blackmailed the authors or the authors are in the promoted band. But this felt different. From the story of why the Songhoy Blues are here to the music itself, it was unique and refreshing. Not sure it will make my weekly rotation - and that is more than acceptable - but they were top notch and very good. 10/10.

Good

I was already familiar with this album, so it was one of those pleasant surprises where you get to listen to something you love as reward for the previous day's dirge. A solid piece of work.

So good. I just loved this. That grove is so infectious. It's kind of uniquely African and yet very western in a lot of ways. Combined with the unique story, there is just so much to love. One of my favourite discoveries of this thing for sure

These guys fucking rock I can’t get over the guitar. Easy 5

Yes please more of this sort of thing Love a bit of desert blues, so this is right up my street. Modern enough that I’d not previously heard it. Probably my favourite discovery from this list and I’m halfway through

I loved this. It feels like Southern blues took a long, sun-baked detour through Mali and came back with new life. The guitars are familiar and comforting, but the vocals and rhythms give everything this unexpected, joyful spark. It’s energetic, earthy, and completely infectious. A perfect blend of homegrown blues DNA and West African serendipity.

A pleasant surprise. I don't have the background to analyze it properly, but it has inspired me to fix that.

Oooh, Malian music, always a feast for the ears. I hit "add to library" before I finished the album. Excellent inclusion on the list, absolutely fantastic all around.

This is the good shit, this is the kid of hidden gems I love to find, this is why I signed up for this.

This was wild! Every song had this hypnotically catchy riff that made each song feel like they were 60 seconds but at the same time also 5 minutes?

African music is something I enjoy very much. I grew up in the Caribbean. This album, however, has brought something else. I enjoy what this band brings to the table: the mix of blues, rock, and traditional rhythms from their country of origin, Mali. Garba Touré’s guitar lines weave a hypnotic pulse into this rock-driven territory. The rhythm section propels each track with polyrhythmic grooves feels both ancient and modern, while Aliou Touré’s vocals soar in a style of its own that blends storytelling, call-and-response, and infectious chorus work. What makes the album exceptional is its emotional duality and resilience: the music radiates joy even as it carries the weight of exile. Songs like “Soubour” and “Al Hassidi Terei” burst with danceable energy; yet beneath the surface lie stories. I wish I could learn more. From what I can hear in the music, I sense hardship and celebration—the beating heart of the album. It’s what gives Music in Exile its power and global resonance.

every now and then in a sea of mediocre british post punk you come across a hidden gem like this one. this was a refreshing listen that reminded me why i do this project. these guys absolutely rip

This was a really great listen. There's a lot of layers here. The earlier part of the album is maybe more familiar for western listeners. It's blues-rock, some technical guitar riffing, but often pretty straight-forward. The album gets more intricately layered after. There's some afro-beat mixed in. Choral vocals that sound much more distinctly African, than American. The rhythms become more complex, the guitar moves faster, frenetic at points, with drums playing poly-rhythms. There's also a few gorgeous acoustic ballads that are stripped down to the bones. Album closer "Mali" is a gorgeous number which I assume is a love-letter to their home country. The more I listened the more affecting I found this one. Great album, really happy to have been introduced to this one.

Loved this. A beautiful display of how musical traditions travel back and forth across the world

Blues rock with African language vocals. First track just grabs your attention, instruments so crisp and well-mixed and the vocals fit amazingly! Are there non-standard time signatures in Al Tchere Bele? 2nd half seems more traditional, folksy, with an acoustic, clean sound. Excellent technical playing and mix is so clear. Best track - Soubour, Irganda, Al Hassidi Terei, Jolie 4-5 stars, brilliant album with some amazing standout tracks. Fuck it, give it 5!

Mega

Excellent listen

Not exactly my musical style but hey, these guys are heroes! What kind of country BANS music?? The kind that definitely is asking for resistance, and Songhoy Blues serves it up right!

This is a great album! It has some lovely peaks and is musically interesting. So many of the albums on this list sound virtually the same it's refreshing to hear something different.

Amazing foreign blues

This is why I'm here

I'm giving this 5 because it was the first album that reminded why I did this in the first place- new to me, vibrant, exciting

So fucking good

AWESOME!!!

I had the absolute pleasure of hearing Songhoy Blues on the tour promoting this album and, amazing as it is here in it's recorded format, as a live proposition these guys are a phenomenon. Biased because I saw them live, perhaps, but what a gorgeous fusion of desert sounds and rock this album is.

soubour - oh shit that guitar riff at the beginning hell yea brother - vocals hell yea claps hell yea GUITAR HELL YEAH loving this - perfect movie intro song irganda - vocal style is so sick omg - god the instruments are so good Al Hassidi Terei - these guitar riffs just dont quit each song has had a bangin riff - love the singing all together - sound reminds me a bit of the end of the f***ing world soundtrack Sekou Oumarou - oooh a little slower than the others so far - didn't pop off like i expected but its alright Nick - ooh hell yea makes me want to drive around in a convertible on a hot day Ai Tchere Bele - ooh slow intro that gets absolutely fuuuunky - the rhythm in this one is dope Wayei - ooh the vocalizations in this one are cool - also like the guitar riff (although all of them have been banging so far really haha) Petit Metier - ooh acoustic guitar and vocals only so far - guitar again giving me very graham coxon vibes - vocals too - OOH hell yea when the drum/electric guitar and backing vocals come in Jolie - slower, some kind of intrument holding the beat that goes "cuh-tchk", v chill - popped off a bit more at the end nice Desert Melodie - god this guitarist is incredible love it sm - v chill Mali - acoustic + vocals only, melody reminds me a bit of jose gonzales - beautiful ending AWESOME love the entire vibe of this. funky, smooth, groovy- amazing album. no notes 10/10

Excellent! 👌

My God, incredible! I always get excited when I see a band I'm not familiar with because I love discovering new music and this one did not disappoint. Really cool blend of genres with some seriously fun riffs. The instrumentation is fantastic. The vocals are amazing too because they are, for me, unexpected against the underlying music. After listening the first time, I researched the story and history. What an interesting story. All the people eating it poorly because they cannot understand the language are likely the reason I'm living under the rule of Trump, who for reasons literate people find befuddling, they find to be a "genius". The US is victim to its own isolation and the inability of people to experience different cultures. One of my favorite discoveries from the project so far.

Great Mali/West-African blues rock.

funky

crazy story behind this band, and some really cool music

Incredible story

Amazing discovery. Gorgeous music and a powerful, inspiring story of resilience and resistance.

When I signed up for the project these kinds of albums were the ones I was looking foward to, those that transcends the usual bounderies and that otherwise would be overlooked. I dont understand the language, but the vibes are magestic.

I love this album. The guitar work is just insane and the rhythms and beats are just mind blowing. Reminds me of Trout Mask Replica in places due to how it constantly subverts my expectations of the beats. And it's super catchy as well, I'm gonna have "Al Hassidi Terei" stuck in my head for days

Une super découverte, parfaite pour une après-midi post-soutenance à attendre le train qui a 1h40 de retard ! Je l'ai écouté au moins 5 fois de suite. Formidable.

Loved this. It is the best non-English language album I have heard so far. Great musicianship and moving tunes.

Knew I loved Songhoy Blues going into this and that doesn't change. That afrobeat, psychedelic blues mixture gives my heart much joy.

can't understand a word they're saying, but the vibes are simply immaculate

Exactly what this list is for, finding new music you never would have heard before

I started writing this at about half way through the listening while having breakfast and getting ready for a run and started thinking “this is nice but it might not be a regular listening” but by the time I reached Ai Tchere Bele, Songhoy Blues had captured me and then with the flip to the hypnotic rhythm of Wayei I was genuinely hooked and haven’t moved from the table yet. The slide into Petit Metier is wonderfully sublime and really does hold up to their style of desert blues and the drop in of the syncopated rhythm in the second half of the track is a wonderful surprise that really shows the bands skill and talent as musicians. I think this album probably gets down voted because people don’t understand the lyrics and sadly I couldn’t find them online as I’d love to understand Music in Exile from a lyrical perspective. 100% this will be in regular rotation in my collection now. The harmonies are haunting, the guitar lines are beautiful in the way they wind, the bands use of rounds to naturally craft layers in the way other artists might use loop pedals. Disappointed to see that I missed their U.K. tour for their new album by a few weeks and will be exploring the rest of their work. Didn’t expect to like this as much as I did, it makes me want to sway, it makes me want to dance. I think it’s expertly produced and balanced really well but you can’t do that without great music to start from. Solid 5/5 I favourited this and instantly downloaded it.

Okay I already knew going into this album that I would enjoy it but I did not realize how much I would. Every single song on the album finds its place and the story behind the music can be felt even though I could not understand the lyrics. Luckily I am already accustomed to non-English music so I did not find it challenging. Instead, the language barrier created a beautiful feeling in my soul knowing that I was able to connect with men I have never met, who I do not understand verbally. I felt their suffering but I also felt their fighting spirit. 9/10 rounded up to 5 stars.

Really enjoyed this one. I could not understand what they were saying, but does that really matter in music? Every song was fantastic.

Excellent

I really could listen to this all day. A little more bass-heavy than Ali Farka Touré, but just as hypnotic. (And when it was over Spotify gave me a song they did with Iggy Pop)

Excellent.

First listen to Songhoy Blues. Really dug the music. Didn't understand the lyrics due to the language barrier. Enjoyed this listen. This is something I do like about this list is the exposure to music that I may not otherwise would have heard about from around the world.

Now, this is a discovery, this is the music I want to dance on, despite the (probably? Couldn't find the lyrics) sombre message, or, likely, because of it. I think, I need to dig into desert blues now. Loved Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei and Desert Melody.

This was great. So glad to learn about this band.

Petit metier favorite song ✨

What is this absolute perfection? Have never heard of these guys and immediate referred them to several friends. What an album.

Outstanding

This album is the reason I love these challenges. This is awesome, combining african rhythms with RnB and getting something so fun for me to listen to. I didn't understand a single word, but I didn't care, I just wanted to dance. I'll be listening to this band frequently from now on, I'm really amazed by them. 5/5

Even though i cant understand the language. The guitar was enough to understand the music. Beautifully done.

Oh yeah that's what I'm here for. Who cares if I don't understand it? It's blues

Desert Jazz is so good

Here we go, THIS is what this list is for, who knows if I would have found this otherwise and it is GREAT.

Perfect.

This is what I'm talking about, I'm all in on these guys.

I don't know how I am consistently surprised by how great West African psychedelic guitar rock is but it happens 100% of the time. This might be the best one yet, though. An absolute heat rock.

Outstanding album, absolutely brilliant. Get big Ali Farka Touré vibes from it. One of the best I’ve had in a while.

What a great album. As someone who is slightly familiar with this style of music, it was a pleasant surprise to listen to a great example of the genre. It’s so refreshing to my ears.

> the Beatles This rules

Awesome in every way. Why I'm here.

Yeahh thats what im talking about

I didn't understand a single word but I was dancing the whole time.

Never heard these guys before but I really enjoyed them! Their tiny desk concert is great too. Super talented dudes. Love the mix of genres. Heck, this album is almost an entire genre on its own. Very much unlike anything else I've heard.

funky town ale ne je to dobre africke hybeme sa ziadne nudne kapitalisticke anericke kokotiny co boli vcera ten paul simons nech ide domov do tekova.

Fucking class

Easily one of my favorite albums until now

Very interesting! 9.5/10

interesante propuesta y mezcla de sonidos, la historia de fondo es muy dura

Amazing band, amazing story, amazing set at Love Supreme, amazing album.

Amazing!

This is a jam. There's points where I wanna say this sounds like disco or Talking Heads and realize, oh yeah, other way around.

Absolutely love this, and had never heard it before — though I am familiar with MDou Moctar, whose style is similar. They call it desert blues, and I definitely hear the influence of Delta blues in their guitar stylings. Hell of a backstory, too. Really happy to discover this.

A truly incredible album. This is the first album in a while that I’ve listened to front to back multiple times. Setting the tone right out of the gate with Soubour and just continuing with great songs that all have their own depth and uniqueness to keep the entire album a must listen. From bluesy songs like Sekou oumarou and Nick (shoutout for that one) to songs like Wayei and Jolie that have more of an indie/surfer rock guitar sound to the acoustic Petit Metier this album has a little bit of everything. And even though I don’t know what they’re saying, the vocals and harmonies sound fantastic. Shout out to Alex for giving me the heads up to listen to this one. 5/5 for sure

Nice sounds. Great tunes. 5/5

Loved it

🥰!

Really impressed! Timbuktu Punk rocks! Also, why so few non english albums wth

Honestly this was fantastic. Incredible vocals

This is a cracking good album by a band forced from Timbuktu to Bamako and later to achieve global popularity. They kickstarted the Desert Blues as a genre

No idea what they’re saying, but loved the vibe and energy

Only thing more impressive than this music is the band’s backstory!

Awesome tunes

For not knowing really anything they are singing about SB really has some good stuff here. Probably my favorite intl record so far on this project.

The Songhoy Blues band formed in Timbuktu in 2012 after being forced to leave their homes in the north of Mali due to political and religious turmoil. The music they make is full of joy as well longing for the lives they left behind. The highlight is probably the final track Mali that needs no translation to break your heart. This is Afro Beat with a rock edge and an unexpected gem on this list.

Finally some non-Western music! A really interesting afrobeat album, with good guitar parts, pretty upbeat, well written. More of this, please!

Mali! Love it and gotta give lots of love to my African brethren

Oh hell yeah. That's the stuff.

I can't say much, only that i loved this album <3 Its such a joy to listen to the tracks, all of them stick to me upon listing for the first time ! It feels like that i've known their music for a long time. I will defentily come back and listen to this album more often. Cheers

Great album, with great fusion of rock/blues sound, African rhytms and languge of Mali!

UGHHH! Another album where the notion of rating or reviewing just crumbles. My response to it couldn't be more trivial. From what I understand, I don't think I can even understand exactly what this music means. GROOVE IN THE FACE OF WAR! I literally can't imagine. A five star blessing just to be able to listen.

Lovely sounds; I enjoyed the general vibe of the album

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

THIS is the stuff I come here for. Blew my socks right on off. Will definitely be coming back for more!

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

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.

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!

I loved this album. I’ve never heard of these guys, but this was such a breath of fresh air. I’m really looking forward to more surprises like this one.

Wow, what a find this was. I've always liked desert blues, but haven't properly explored the genre. Songhoy Blues offer a slightly more modern take on the genre, showcasing influence by the incredible Ali Farka Touré, as well as a wide range of Western styles. Interesting that they cite hip hop and R&B as their 'main diet', while staying firmly connected to Northern Malian music. An added bonus here is the collaboration with Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. None of this says anything about their personal stories of being internally displaced persons, in exile from a fundamentalist group who wanted to ban music from Timbuktu. Despite their modern sound, Songhoy Blues are also keeping their Northern sounds alive.

Super cool. Didn't think I'd like it

Love it! Completely new to me and I really enjoy the rhythms of Mali combined with the bluesy guitar.

Rousing and fresh!

This is what I came here for. This list needs more international content. So much incredible music from Africa. This record is excellent.

9/10 I have never heard this band and really enjoyed it

Desert blues for the win.

A really nice sounding album. I wish I knew what they were saying but I also felt some parts of their songs. Shows that they do know their blues. 9/10

I really enjoyed this, and even though I didn’t understand the lyrics, I found myself pulled in the melodies in the music

New to me but sounded great.

Amazing!!!

I liked this! It's always very chill for me to listen to music in languages other than English. The vibe of the album was relaxing but upbeat -- good music to do chores to. :)

This is absolutely what I decided to do this 1001 albums list for, enjoyed every bit of this album and I've never heard anything quite like it.

Very nice beat, easy to listen and melodies stick withyou.

This was such a cool album!!! I have never heard anything like it.

I liked this one a lot. The sound was very clear. The guitar parts reminded me of gitkin a bit. Very nice music. No clue what the lyrics are though. Liked the first half more than the second.

Absolutely fantastic desert rock. Deep, groovy riffs overlaid with furious virtuoso notes and a near-perfect backbeat that sets the tempo and expectation of excitement (or whatever the mood may be) while still leaving enough sonic space for the vocals and guitar to shine.

It seems to excel in the blues, you need to have actually felt the blues. These guys have had that, and despite the language barrier you can feel it in this music. The mixture of instruments and rhythms create an amazingly distinct genre of music.

Superb.

This was great!

A superb album, an absolute joy to listen to. This is the kind of music I came to this list to discover.

4.5 stars. Opening riff shreds and from there on its just a great blues rock album. Fun and different that it's not in English, but the guitars from this Mali-based group just carry the listener on an enjoyable ride. Standouts are "Soubour" and "Al Hassidi Terei".

Ok, I didn't understand a word and frankly I don't care. This album grabbed me from the first note and I will definitely be revisiting it.

I'm digging this album! Every track is smooth, bluesey, and engaging. Great recording quality, too!