Music in Exile

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!

This is incredible. On one hand, it sounds like blues-inspired African music. But then the blues was inspired from African music. So far, this is my favorite new discovery from this list. I've never heard anything quite like this, and I want to hear more! (And maybe figure out what they're saying...)

Unexpected 5*, loved seeing something different.

Very groovy album

so it starts out sounding like some southern type of blues but when the vocals hit it changes completely. really good album, proves that good music can transcend language barriers. also the story behind it is really interesting too.

What a pleasure this album was

Fantastic

Yes! Uplifting rhythms, fun to listen to. Absolutely will get back to it in the future.

Loved this. No clue what they are saying in any of the songs, but had great sounds and would be great background noise.

My first exposure to desert rock is Mdou Moctar. There's just something so metal about desert rebels wielding an electric guitar. And Moctar's music is certainly what one would expect: epic, electrifying, and explosive. "Music in Exile", however is different. Instead of erupting in mind-blowing electric guitar driven fire, they instead took it easy and just created the grooviest brand of blues I have ever heard. The guitars are amazing in their own way, and the tunes are spot-on. Instead of powerful rebels making stormy statements in the middle of the desert, they created an image of a community channeling their emotions into danceable grooves, letting the energy build up and take them somewhere spiritually uplifting. A down-to-earth masterpiece of the genre.

Amazing desert blues rock record with hypnotic and groovy rhythm. Totally surprised me with the great quality of the record. Truly deserving to be on the list.

energetic blues, like a lot

This album was a lot of fun

Thoroughly enjoyed, never heard of the before though

Listened to this while drawing. Really enjoy the album.

Love love love this

one of my fav :O

This is a GROOVE. Absolutely love it. Great rhythms and guitar tones and just a cool sounding album.

Много готини блусари!

Amazing stuff. Turns out I love desert rock! And these guys could rock with some of the best. I was wondering if the list would have albums from outside NA or EU. Happy to see that it does, happy to see that these men from Mali are not an obscure group, and happy that they have finally reached me. This band has a cohesive overall sound while the album features slower songs, faster songs, upbeat songs and more melancholic songs. They show experience and versatility. First album that's going into my library. I can see myself listening to this band more often in the future.

Never heard of these guys before, this kicks ass though. Listened to it 3 times through without getting bored, so I'm pretty sure it justifies the rating.

Yes, thank you. This is why I'm here.

A really sold bluesy album with a lot of emotions behind the lyrics, even if I don't understand them

Great fusion blues Africa

This is the kind of discovery I’m looking for by doing the 1001 albums. This is a great story for blues music. Black music from America influencing African musicians. Not as flashy or focused on lead guitar solos but uses the blues structure and electric blues tones in a Malinese groove.

Awesome! Totally punk rock in a completely novel way

I may have over rated this album just a smidge, but I am overwhelmed and impressed nonetheless. I feel like Songhoy Blues has something that needs to be said (all without understanding a lick of what's being sung) compared to many of the other ventures on this list. This is pure passion and pure blues.

This was an unexpected pleasure and the kind of album that makes participating in this 1001 albums project worthwhile. Great musicians playing in a combination of styles I haven't heard before, helping expand my musical horizons - rather than the 53rd half-assed britpop outfit.

What a surprise here! Delicia de escuchar y bailar. Llamado Desert Blues o Afro Blues por razones bien obvias pero sus sonidos tienen también algo espiritual y tropical. Puedo sentir a Colombia a través de estos sonidos que vienen de Mali. Es una fiesta completa este álbum.

Such a beautiful album

This is why I go through with this album-a-day rigamarole. This is an absolute gem I'd have never found otherwise. Very grateful to add this album to my rotation!

Really enjoyed this album.

Is desert blues the best music genre I never knew existed????? Banger after banger. Great songs, not a bad track in there. Really groovy, I’ve saved the whole thing to my Spotify. No-skip album. Fav tracks: Soubour, Wayei, Irganda, Al Hassidi Terei, basically all of them ngl Least fav: Mali (but it’s still good)

best thing julian casablancas ever did

How have I never heard this album before?! This was incredible from start to finish; I actually listened to the entire album twice in a row because I loved it so much. While listening the second time, I also looked up the story behind the album and the translated lyrics, and that made me fall even more in love with it. Amazing album, one I know will be in my regular rotation from here on out. I will definitely be checking out the rest of Songhoy Blues' albums. Standout Tracks: "Soubour," "Irganda," "Sekou Oumarou," "Jolie"

This album begins with straight electric blues and shifts over the course of the album to for Malinese influenced music. In a very real way, this album represents a full circle moment; here we see an African influenced American genre turn into something new in the hands of Africans. It truly revitalizes the blues in a way that is very difficult to do. The result is astounding. The title of the album alludes to the fact that Songhoy Blues is a band in exile, and may be making some of the truest blues music out there.

40 minutes of some damn good grooves. Best track: Soubour

Loved it. Ambience. Blues. Guitar. No matter what language.

Didn't know what to expect. Pleasantly surprised. Was good to work to.

A discovery!!

Malian blues! Very cool sound, and the band's history is really interesting! I am all the way invested in this

This was good company today, perfect for walking about and well deserving of decent headphones. The record quality and tone of the instruments is superb. Beautiful.

Zalig album. De blues, de samenzang, traditionele Afrikaanse sound. Toffe ontdekking

Amazing, so original, I haven't heard something that intrigues me like this in a very long time.

Saharan shredders unite.

You know what, I had to restart the record like 3 times because I wanted to listen in one session . I didn’t get sick of it. In fact, I very much enjoyed it. I feel very charitable and this album deserves it with this prime demonstration of the blues combines with African musical influences. 5/5

If not for this listening project, would I have ever been introduced to this album...I suspect not. So glad that I didn't miss this opportunity!! I will admit that it kind of got repetitive sounding to me, but not enough to mark it down.

Wonderful. Improved my day.

Amazing African Blues album.

tight as fuck bro 9/10

afrika mia

Old School rock'n roll met Malinese zang. Top!

Great

This was rad. Tribal blues rock, yes please. I thoroughly enjoyed this when it came out and glad I was reminded of its awesomeness.

Really loved this album. I have no idea what they’re singing about but the grooves and players are so sick and the arranging is great. The drums and guitar really remind me of early chess blues and junior kimbrough. Al Hasidic terei - cool triple groove Sekou oumarou- sweet guitars Ai tchere bele- reaaally sick guitar grooves

Blues muy bueno que no pierde su esencia africana. Combina el blues clásico con ritmos de muchas percusiones y pese a no haber buscado el significado de las letras lo disfruté mucho. Imprescindible leer la historia del grupo.

What a discovery this is. Played this non-stop during a whole working day. Beautiful rhythm, the voices combine perfectly. Happy to be in this 1001 albums adventure

Always a trip to see things I thought of as "obscure" pop up here. I like the West African sound, but when more traditional, it tends to all run together. This album does a great job of marrying the structure and modality (?) with traditional western blues rock.

Songhoy Blues - refugees from Mali due to religious (Islamic) extremist group Ansar Dine. Interesting album, really enjoyed it. The different styles of blues and rock shined through. Soulful song Mali, I don't know the language but the intent seeps through.

This entire album was a breath of fresh air. The music is fantastic and vibrant, and their voices are so soothing. African rhythms skillfully mixed with traditional blues.

Never heard of this album or, indeed, the band before. I loved it. Track 2 especially (which is now permanently on my MP3 player). Absolutely phenomenal musicians - top class. am currently investigating if they still gig - i'd say when they play live, they'd bring the house down.

Rhythms, Tones, Layering. Expertly done.

Didn't understand the words at all, but sonically, it was cool.

A soon as I saw Desert Blues my ears perked up. As soon as the opening notes of Soubour kicked in I knew I was in for a treat. What a delightful album. Faves: Soubour, Igranda, Jolie

Great African Blues!

Not sure how many others could say this and mean it,  but I'm a big fan of the Timbuktu music scene. I'm serious! Ali Farka Touré, an amazing guitar player, is also from the Timbuktu region. He got his university degree in Music from Timbuk U. (OK that's a joke.) It doesn't say if Songhoy Blues guitarist Garba Touré is related to  Ali Farka Touré. He's not related to the other Touré's in the band so perhaps it's a coincidence. I like how the band has refreshed the dessert blues sound that Ali Farka Touré and others introduced outside of Mali. They have modernized the sound but kept the traditional guitar licks and style and also play the n'goni - a stringed instrument that marries so well with the guitar licks.

Rating: 10/10

Incredible music, love this

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.

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.

Listened before? No Familiar with the artist? No Thoughts: - Almost immediately was into this, yay! - I can have trouble getting into music when I don't understand the lyrics, but it helps when the songs are danceable 😄 And great melodies throughout. I was never bored listening to it. - I have to say, I think I like this type of blues more than the American blues I've heard so far. Favorite track(s): Petit Metier (I did understand a bit of this one, but I'm far from fluent in French 😅

Protest singers and protest songs - great stuff and the sound is so rich and bluesy.

Really nice guitar rhythms. Loads of energy in the band. Great sound.

Great album, really doesn't let up! Reminds me a lot of Seasick Steve in places.

some great blues

Excellent Malian blues. Guitar and vocals (and antifascism) reminiscent of Tinarawen. At times meditative.

See this is what I want to hear, not obscure ass British electronic. Some amazing rhythms and guitar stuff.

These songs slap. Desert blues was bound to be up my alley and this did not disappoint. The quality starts to trail off a bit toward the end of the album, but overall it was just a great time.

8/10 Best songs: Soubour, Petit Metier, Jolie Excellent world music albums two days in a row? Be still my beating heart. This album by Songhoy Blues is exactly what I was hoping to hear when I started this project - I find music by Malian exiles frankly far more compelling than yet another Beatles or Beatles-related album. The guitars and beats on this album are absolutely outstanding. The name of the group is exactly what you get - this is blues at its finest, with a very clear Songhoy influence. My only complaint is that some of the songs don't really work for me, but you know, that happens. Good addition to the list.

AYYYYYYYY

Lovely!

Wow this album was a vibe. The guitar work is sensational and the grooves & energy in the tracks grab you immediately. I've never listened to world desert blues like this but it's safe to say I'm a fan. The energy drops a bit for me towards the back third - but that really is nit picking. It's a strong 8/10 from me.

Banger.

Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:✔️ Albums like this remind me why I'm hanging onto this project. Probably would've never found this gem otherwise

cool

This is the best part of the challenge, finding an album you’d never listen to usually and discovering a hidden gem

Definitely the type of album this list was made to showcase

Excellent African rock. Sounds both familiar and new and exciting at the same time

Fantastic album, this is what I really wanted from the list, music i would have never experienced in my own. Fantastic vibe, very skillful playing and just brilliant all round. 4.5

Unfortunately, twice in a row now for me, I am judging an album where I don't speak the language - meaning I can only really grade based on vibes and the feel of the music. On the surface, it feels like a really odd juxtaposition: Middle East/North African language, along side a musical style which is so ubiquitously Western. But when you think about it a little more, it represents something special. Humans from all over the world share far more in common than what we have as differences. Some things are universal to humanity - music is one of those things. And musical styles aren't fixed in time or place. I must admit, I know very little about Arabian, or African music. But I think I noticed something. The songs seem to swing between Arabian and African influence. Between Arabic, and an African language (which I unfortunately can't identify). This chopping and changing reflects the cultural and political conflicts which were and continue to be far too common across the region.

This is the kind of stuff I was hoping to find in this project. Had my head bobbing often and I found myself making that face when you hear something funky. Really liked this. Will definitely add to my collection. 4 stars

9/10

Very surprising album. Several of the songs on the first half of the album reminded me of the best Black Keys songs. The back half of the album slowed down, and was a little less interesting. Overall, I really dug this one. More of this on the list!

i actually really enjoyed this album, who would have thought ?

Great album which I never would have listened to otherwise, with exceptional musicianship and great vocals. No idea what they are saying, but the story behind the band is inspiring. 8/10

rym 3.33 Songhai Music/Afro-Rock 远超预期，虽说本来对非洲的现代音乐就没什么概念吧。甚至品出了一些七八十年代迷幻摇滚，以及更早的布鲁斯的味道。律动，吉他音乐可以说是这张专辑的一切。可以称得上是遗珠。 pick: Al Hassidi Terei, Ai Tchere Bele, Mali

Cool african sound, haven't listened to anything like this before

Cool rhythms, interesting backstory, overall enjoyed it. Al hassidi terei is a banger. Rest is quite simple and can get very repetitive

Yep, you can just put that desert blues right the fuck into my veins.

really cool vibe. Soubour, Sekou Oumarou, Petit Metier were some of my favourites on the album.

Great album from a great band. Very compelling mix of classic blues and r&b riffs with a unique Songhoy flair. Desert blues is always a great listen -- but even more so here where the music is a form of resistance. Ai Tchere Bele is a favorite on my first listen. The drum beat is a bit of a departure from the more straightforward bluesy grooves so far. And that bassline is incredible. You can really hear the layered peices of the band all weaving together on this track. Reminds me of some afrobeat tunes in that way. Wayei is another favorite, for many of the same reasons. Really wish I could find a good translation of the lyrics -- but, no luck so far.

Did not understand a single word of this album. Still really enjoyed it, especially the guitar. Definitely a good pick

Read up on this band post-listen. Incredible story. I had never heard of or listened to desert blues but I'm now so intrigued by the genre - the unique blend of very Americana and traditional rhythm and style, in the political context, is such a great example of guitars being a vehicle for protest and expression during upheaval.

sourbour har fantastisk bas hele albummets bas er fantastisk

Agréable et surprenant!

Favourite Songs: Al Hassidi Terei Sekou Omarou Nick

Great sounds, sounded a little like early black keys but with a more rhythmic sound and it gets more varied as the album goes on

Surprising banger. Faves = Soubour and Jolie

fusion of blues and wicked Malian rhythms and vocals, what's not to like? 7.5 / 10 Best track/s: Soubour, Petit Matier, Irganda

Boring at best. 2 good songs.

Really liked the first half but the second half wasn’t as exciting, 3.5 for me

3.5

Really interesting blues album , definitely worth a listen

File in the "heard of, but never heard, and had no idea what to expect". Didn't know they were from Mali. Didn't know they were desert blues. Instantly liked. I'll admit I wanted to give this a five but I can't without more investment. I love the first few tracks. It's simplistic, but easy to compare to the other two prominent Malian bands I know - Tinariwen and Amadou and Mariam. They seem to cross both quite well in terms of style. But I was digging most of it. Also is this the first album on this list without it's own Wikipedia entry?

This was so much better than I thought it would be. Not sure how likely I am to come back to this but I really enjoyed this.

This is why this list exists - giving folks like me an opportunity to listen to a beautiful album I otherwise never would have listened to. Not understanding a single word didn’t matter whatsoever. You could feel their passion and joy in every beat. Happy I listened to this.

Another delightful African album. I think the creator of this album playlist is full of himself. He probably doesn't know what is being said, but wants to come off as being cultured. And from the selection of albums on this list, he clearly is not.

Another great album I had never heard of, full of foot tapping beats in a wonderful west African blues rock experience. A lively album that was a lot of fun to listen to, while also not over staying its welcome.

Very interesting record. Fela kuti but it’s blues and folk

Hell yeah, this is pretty much blues rock filtered through the lens of Malian folk music. The result is very cool, and honestly a really transformative take on blues rock. The re-incorporation of African music into music which descends from African music is a really interesting full circle moment and results in really cool rhythmic and melodic ideas. Honestly, some of the more "rock" moments here even remind me a little of King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, which may kind of make sense, because I think they draw from similar musical worlds. And Music In Exile was, really, made in exile. As far as I could tell, this was recorded after escaping Sharia law. But regardless, the content here is unique, exciting blues rock.

This is some blues I can get behind, making a pretty interesting blend with rock and African influences, with an interesting story too Highlights: Al Hassidi Terei, Nick, Ai TchereBele, Jolie

Interesting mix of genres

African music has such amazing & unique melodies & grooves. This is a pretty cool album.

Do love these and tinariwan

This ruled, though I think my favorite type of blues is always going to be a bit raunchier than this.

I wasn't familiar with the desert blues genre before listening to Songhoy Blues's Music in Exile, but I really enjoyed it.

I am on world music tilt at the minute anyway, so this is hitting fantastically well

DAMN esses caras sabem das coisas!!!!

Half the songs could solve world peace. The other half could spark world revolution. I want to live a life that discovers more albums like this one.

I found myself enjoying this quite a lot, surprisingly since it is quite different from most of my usual stuff I listen to

Some good shit right here

Forming a band during war and becoming a refugee is unreal. Love the music, I think I’m too sad for the energy right now.

had never heard of these guys, but i really like them! will be listening more!! 4/5

It's not the same language but this really reminds me of my best friend from pre-school, a Swahili speakin Tanzanian cat. Good times. Nice music! Kid was wild. His mama cooked good food, I didn't appreciate it back then though, as the whitest kid of all time.

very nice album to have in the background while designing

-1 star cuz I didn't understand what they were saying

7/10

Really easy to listen to and enjoy

crudo, de raiz ! interesante para escuchar música cruda y rica

Fun surprise. Blues rock, with african vibe. One of the rare discoveries that this list brings

When I decided to do this exercise this was why I wanted to do it to hear albums I would never have known existed nevertheless listened to. The music is great, guitars rock and even without understanding a word they say the lyrics draw you in. Very glad I was able to find this album

Reminiscent of Tehran rock

Very cool sound!

Enjoyed this. Great rhythms and harmonies. Love music that takes you on a journey not just the music but through interest in the musicians background. I ended up with new music and new understanding about life around the world.

I have downloaded one of their songs in the past, but it’s not from this album. I love this album. I don’t understand the lyrics but the music and voices hook me. Didn’t know there was a “desert blues” genre until I looked at the Wiki link.

This is really very good. They’d be superb live. A great find from this list.

This is kind of a jam. Unexpected for sure.

I had never heard of them before but this record is soo cool and so groovy!

Desert Blues is my most favorite world music genres. I first got into African rock music in the 90s, through a co-worker at a Caribbean restaurant who was from Zimbabwe who got me into Fela. I would show him bands like The Clash and Velvet Underground. Later on, I found those Zamrock! comps and just got interested rock music from Africa. Another coworker introduced Group Inerane and I got into Tuareg and desert blues. It’s so interesting to hear blues rock return to its roots. Instead of American blues with straight forward 2/4 beats, this Polyrhythmic closer to funk with emphasis on the one. Circular, arpeggiated guitar parts and loops. I love this stuff. 4.3

I enjoyed this! Not something I’d listen to all the time but very good nonetheless.

4/5

Once you learn that the author of ‘1001 albums’ hasn’t listened to the albums, sometimes one generates, and you wonder, in this case “I bet he only put this album here to counter claims he doesn’t include music from around the world” and so I come into this album with low expectations, as my research for the album felt uber limited. So I end up surprised when I end up really enjoying the sounds on this album, it really is something nice that I never would’ve even discovered if not for this list. As oddball of an inclusion it is, and whatever reason its inclusion may be, I am here for it

Perfect album for this sort of list and project, give me more of this instead of the 30th fucking mediocre britpop album

Always great to hear something on this list, that's not from England of even from the western music world. This is nice, blues influenced rock which is rally fun. Could use a little more edge and variation, though, and drums are pretty boring, I sometimes thought I was hearing a drum machine.

Hell yeah this rocked. A little bit too much time spent on songs that had basically nothing besides guitar towards the end but otherwise, this was great.

Very interesting. Never listened to Mail music before. I dig this.

tosta oli niiiin mielenkiintosta lukea

8, tocará escucharse nuevamente varias veces pero su mayor vicio es su mayor virtud, ofrecer algo tan puro de su región que se puede perder en la monotonía y no ofrecer una escucha distinta.

This is what guitars should sound like. Mali, the real home of the blues!

This was an exceptional surprise to me, the musicianship here is really top notch! A few of the songs oddly reminded me of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, this is why I started this project!

What a surprise this was. Pure vibes

This is the sort of thing that makes me like this project. I would never be introduced to this music otherwise. I had it on while I was painting and it was nice to make art to.

Interesting to read about the formation of this band after their exile from their homeland of Mali. It's a union of African vocals and American blues guitar. Great album, I'd love to see this band live.

doesnt understand a single word but straight vibe

Excellent African blues guitar album.

Really liked this !!!

Very fun music. Good for a warm summery day.

I like it.

Cool African blues fusion music, interesting backstory, pretty fun listen.

Great mix of blues rock with African vocals. Really enjoyed this album.

oh. mein. gott. das war suuuper, hat mich zwischendurch an house of the rising sun erinnert, sehr nice und interessant und vibey

The good shit that makes you want to keep going through the list. Fun and energetic.

I enjoyed this album and checked out the background of Songhoy Blues. I wish I could understand their lyrics. Wouldn't surprise me if they sang really meaningful songs. Their musical style is sound and distinctive.

Excellent!

The emotion comes through even though I don’t understand what they’re saying Playlist add: "Soubour"

⭐⭐⭐⭐- Blues rock med world-music twist. Fräsch och kul. Förstår såklart inget men det spelar absolut ingen roll. Det svänger, det har grit och är engagerande. Velar mellan en hög 3a och svag 4a, tycker inte riktigt det håller hela vägen för 4a. Blir en svag 4a för det gör mig glad. Bäst är Soubour, Irganda, Nick, Petit metier

This was probably the most unique band I’ve ever listened to. Indie/blues/folk sounding riffs with African lyrics wow. fell off in the last 2-3 tracks but otherwise very enjoyable and unique.

Nice find. Toe tapping.

A new name and album to me, and what a find. An excellent Desert Blues album.

Really liking this! Wasn't expecting such a fun album.

Solid 4, love this beautiful world music

Really nice to listen to. Great vocals and guitar work in particular. Loved Soubour when it came out and it still slaps.

I really enjoyed this, African rock, one of the songs I really liked but I forget which one

strong 6music vibes, but I enjoyed that

Love it. Listening to it while working was good.

Very Nice! Some good blues mixed with some sounds I haven’t experienced before, but I can dig it!

Wonderful.

A little repetitive, but really nice listening, good rock and roll

I had literally no clue what they were saying, but it was a really fun time. I'd be a little surprised if this sticks around in newer versions of this list, but it's so unique and definitely not something I would have listened to without this list. Favorite Songs: Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei

Mi sono piaciute molto, ovviamente il testo non ho idea di cosa parli peró hanno un bel ritmo

Great album, no favorite songs but listened to it three times.

C'MON BOYS THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. Super solid album. Cool influences. Great sound.

Nice nice nice. Nee experience, sounds cool

interesting

It is alright but not my sort of thing

cool af 4/5

A really interesting blend of musical styles. A truly unique album on here, which is not easy when there are 1001 on the list. There is much to like, and really nothing to dislike here. It just misses something to really make it stand out among the many really good albums. 4/5

Okay, this was pretty damn awesome. Hell yeah.

Great! Not sure what I was expecting, but the quality throughout is impressive. It's varied and consistently enjoyable. Not being able to understand the lyrics wasn't a huge downside, but it was a little frustrating, since I imagine it would've elevated the experience even more. Truly a great album!

Yes, this was cool!

Vibrant colourful blues

Un très grand oui Génial, un album de blues en 2015 c'est très très très ballzy. C'est super en tout cas

Incroyable, tellement d'énergie

7/10

I really liked this. The guitars sounded awesome, the whole thing sounded like a gritty blues album with African melodic and rhythmic influences.

Excellent blues but I love the garage rock vibes to some of it.

Liked this quite a bit

2 songs in, and I’m loving this. Ok… the rest of the album did not disappoint. This music is just fun (in places), moving (in places), and infectious throughout. Just grooves. Such a find. Would have never known about this group or this “desert blues” music from Mali but for this project. This is one of those records I was hoping to find . Absolutely love this! Adding to my regular rotation.

Blows everything else I've had this past week out of the water. Exasperated by the poor choices over the past few days. Contemplating giving up on the whole thing, but this has restored my faith! It’s a genre I was completely unaware of but it’s superb stuff and highly recommended.

Overall: 4.11 (rounded to 4) Consistency: 4.45 Originality: 3.5 Enjoyment: 4.5 Virtuosity: 4 1. Soubour - 5 2. Irganda - 5 3. Al Hassidi Terei - 4 4. Sekou Oumarou - 4 5. Nick - 5 6. Ai Tchere Bele - 4 7. Wayei - 4 8. Petit Metier - 5 9. Jolie - 4 10. Desert Melodie - 5 11. Mali - 4

This is exactly the type of album I signed up on this site for.

YES! This is the shit I anticipated signing up for this list!

this is nice. i don't think i'm often in the mood for something like this, but this is still lovely music. would listen to it again

Very fun listen! Never heard of desert blues and never listened to a band from Mali before. Great experience, why I love this list.

När det är mycket blues inspiration är det kanon. Däremellan plattare. En svag fyrs

Really loved this one. I'd never heard of Songhoy Blues but I'm very happy to be introduced to them. Their rhythm and tempo was just the perfect soundtrack to my sunny bank holiday. Great vibes all round. Favourites: Soubour Irganda Nick Al Tchere Beli

Super cool album and incredible story. I’m going to have to seek out this documentary. Great listen.

This was cool! I love finding music like this on the generator. Great guitar work on this album.

3.75 - That was a great first time listen.

I mean, you can definitely tell they LOVE The Black Keys and Led Zeppelin. And that’s fine, doing something inspired by someone else isn’t bad, and they do it pretty well here. The instrumentation is fun, the choruses are catchy, one can only assume the lyrics are phenomenal. I wouldn’t know, but I’m assuming. Favorites: Soubour, Irganda, Ai Tchere Bele

This was much more interesting than many of the English speaking albums on this list.

Fun

8/10 - Fantastic album. one of the reasons i love the 1001 challenge - i never would've given these folks a chance. Not a clue what the songs are about, but I feel the passion and energy the group brings Fav Tracks: Soubour, Wayei Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ❌ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅ Album Cover ------- back. street. boys. ALRIGHT

It was good this. Blusey and funky

Groovy and awesome. Hopefully the sentiment of the words is okay 😅

Once, many years ago, I heard Bombino at Ottawa Folk Festival. I was entranced. I bought his CD. I never listened to it again. Perhaps this type of music is better live. Anyway, I liked this but I'd know better than to buy the CD now.

fun, danceable ... repetitive. punkish blues from Mali

Finally, something I hadn’t heard of that turns out to be really good! I’ll be checking out everything else these guys have released.

Funky. Bangers.

this was a really interesting one!! i have not really listened to a lot of blues records, let alone desert blues, but i really appreciated the instrumentation! this makes for very wonderful background music, and the language they sing in (north african i think?) sounds very warm. this was also just a nice break from all the rock. not much else to add, was just a really pleasant time. highlights: soubour, sekou oumarou, al hassidi terei

When to listen: in the mood for a global jam sound. Good energy. cool influences, cool story.

This is why I'm doing the 1001 Albums - finding little gems like this that I would be very unlikely to find on my own. It's a fun album with a really unique sound.

should come with a warning label BANGER ALERT

A pleasing diversion. Good musicianship and some decent songs. Nice to have a bit more variety than the usual fare.

Really enjoyed this despite it being pretty rainy - it feels like the kind of thing that ought to be playing in the blazing heat of a summer day. Repetitive melodic phrases and singing but not to the point where I ever got bored of it, sharing a similar hallmark to the afrobeats of Fela Kuti. The lack of brass didn’t lose anything too significant here though, and if anything, made me pay more attention to the percussive elements which I really enjoyed. Something worth revisiting.

Desert blues from Timbuktu?? I could get behind this. Thank god it's actually something. Oh none of its English. That's kinda hype. Very interesting. Wow this is actually music in exile. I'm really rocking with this. Amazing guitar work on this bad boy. Really really like this one. The guitar is genuinely breathtaking. Favourite: Irganda Least favourite: Nick

Three men with the same surname (unrelated) came together to create an album drawing from their Songhoy heritage, however, don't be mistaken - it is a rock album, as the guitar riffs often make the songs in the album. The cultural and political context of the album is both devastating and inspiring. After an islamic oppressor forbids any music, creating such an album is both a celebration of the heritage and a resistance to those who want to silence those who sing. Favourite songs: Petit Metier, Jolie, Desert Melodie. Songhoy Blues blend the ethnic rhythms with a traditional rock sound to create a transformative sound that is as unique, as it is welcomed.

Great guitar jams on this one. I was definitely grooving. I think I've heard 2 artists from Timbuktu and both just killed on guitar. New travel destination unlocked???

I liked it a lot - would never have heard of it without this. I love the beat - reminds me a bit of Bhundu Boys.

Almost skipped the whole album because of the car add first song but the rest is amazing

This is the best part of the challenge, finding an album you’d never listen to usually and discovering a hidden gem

This was awesome! Better and more interesting than most stuff I hear in the states while still retaining catchiness and musicality

I wasn’t familiar with the term “Desert Blues,” but it’s quite clear that the blues must play an important role in parts of Africa. On *Music In Exile*, Songhoy Blues seamlessly blend American and African influences, thereby demonstrating where the blues tradition originates. In comparison, I would describe the “African school” as more relaxed and rhythmic than the traditions from the Mississippi Delta or Chicago. I find it fascinating, and it’s definitely worth a listen. This project is perfect for discoveries like this!

Another one I really enjoyed. This little side quest is great because I know I love music from around the world but it can feel overwhelming deciding where to start but this keeps bringing me music I would never have known to search for but is absolutely my kind of thing!

Really enjoyed this album, but it didn’t fully stand out for me. Very talented, but at times the songs blended together a little. Still I love finding new music like this on the list that I probably would have never come across on my own.

Honestly, I never thought an album like this would find its way onto the list. Thought the creator would find a way to include another Elvis Costello album instead. Awesome sub-sahel sound. Not my favorite of the genre but a great addition.

Don’t know this… Really lovely. This is why I’m here. 4 stars. Boolean rating: yes, very glad to hear before I die. Hopefully I can listen many more times before I shuffle off this mortal coil.

Refreshing, fun, lively, interesting.

Great guitar, strong vocals, big energy. And also a breath of fresh air to have something a little different on this list ha is absolutely smothered with western music.

What? This is fire. Soubour will be a repeated listen I can tell.

This was really good! I enjoyed the vibes

This album was a 'vibe'. Loved it. The lyrics...I don't speak the language, but they worked as an instrument in themselves.

This was a great discovery for me, really enjoyed it and definitely entered by regular rotation.

Very beautiful. Mdou Moctar without the wailing overdrive.

Første halvdel e kanon, så dabbe det litt av. Runde opp til firer.

Wonderful music. I am acquainted with some of this 'Bamako music' via Ali Farka Touré, Amadou et Mariam, Tinariwen, and others. The documentary featuring this band escaped my notice, and I may have to look for a time to watch it.

I have never heard of this band before, didn’t understand a word they sang but the music was fantastic! Have it on my list of an album to buy.

Another album that was totally new to me, and it’s a great listen. Favourite track: Petit Metier

First thought: "well, I've never listened to music from Mali before." Second thought: "oh damn, there's a riff here." It's distinctly bluesy and very guitar and vocals-based. There are a bunch of influences that are totally distinct from my Western blues experiences, though: melodies sound like they have an influence from Arab or Indian vocal melodies with all the ornamentation and the guitar riffs during rhythm sections sound almost like Chinese zither melodies. I can't tell you if those are real relationships or if they're coincidences and this is all pure Malian influence; I'm more or less floating in space in terms of how unmoored I am. Apparently, there's a whole genre called Desert Blues that I've never heard of and this is my introduction to it. That's exactly what I'm working through The List for. 4/5; not world-bending but what a record and what an intro to a genre

It was not at all what I was expecting. In a very good way. It really has a special spiritual listening experience. But it's also a punching rock album. Track 3 is a great example for that. Track 7 also has great spiritual qualities to it, with the high backing vocals, rolling guitar, and vamp feeling. Lovely track. 8 is one of the most moving here. A very strong chorus. Also the acoustic closer, Mali, is a highlight. I really enjoyed this one. It's wonderful, worm, deep, groovy and and fun. It deserves a 4.

Didn't understand a thing but I really enjoyed it.

I really loved this. This was the kinda album I was hoping to pick up on this endeavor. Something I wouldn’t ever run across on my own.

This was really cool. Enjoyed it a lot. Quite a different feel to it.

Kinda vibey. No idea what it’s about but I enjoyed it

That was pretty awesome. Could make good working music

Love this sound from Mali. Great sample of music from there.

African music is the heart of blues music and subsequently rock n roll as well. It's fascinating to hear that American art form refiltered through its African roots. I've been a fan of Ali Farka Touré for many years now and there are obviously a lot of similarities between his work and Songhoy Blues. But SB are different enough to make it a unique and interesting listen. 4/5

Wasn't expecting this, but some solid rock and blues.