Music in Exile

Beautiful music. Love this stuff.

Favorite: All of them? Total vibe, really really dug this.

This group's sound reminds me a little of Ali Farka Toure. I really like this album.

The band has an interesting background story, I like songs 1, 8, 2, and 3.

This is a breath of fresh air in a very predominantly white-european list. I enjoyed it but couldn't shake the feeling that it was here as a diversity token. Credit where it's due, I'll most likely listen to it again

Weirdly fun even though you don't understand anything

Touré de force

That is some fine guitar playing and beautiful vocals. I'll definitely listen again.

Glad I got Ali Farka Touré a few days ago to be able to put this one in context. Really good stuff and a good lesson in world history too.

This is why I joined this. An album and artist that I've never heard of...and it's going to be on heavy rotation on my headphones for a while. In the mix, there's african themes (obvs) and proper Deep South blues. Great stuff

Rv/g

Disaster

Like listening to the Black Keys in French. Would definitely listen to more by them.

i am so glad this website gives me the chance to hear albums i wouldve never found or thought of listening to. this has some of the most beautiful guitar work and the overall vibe is simply great

What a fun album! Its albums like this that make me love this project. I'd never have heard this otherwise Very enjoyable 4 ⭐️

This is really cool. Great production and love the overall sound. The only thing I can really say against it is that it's musically very similar across tracks. Still a bop though, and quite hypnotic at times. Favourite tracks: Soubour, Irgana, Al Hassidi Terei, Wayei, Kashmir.

Songhoy Blues—who? Never heard of it. Blues from Timbuktu? OK...I'm ready. And then something like this. That's awesome...blues with lots of African influences, or vice versa. It grooves like crazy. This album alone was worth the site and the time it took. Of course, this is nothing new...combining traditional Western music with African roots. But they performit with an energy that automatically transfers to the listener. Brilliant.

Really enjoyed this

I liked the sound and harmony though I couldn’t understand them.

Really nice. Couldn’t understand a word but didn’t have to. Great sound, great backing vocals, really well done. Liked the variety too. This is what I was hoping this list would do more of.

Reigniting the fuse of blues rock, Songhoy Blues demonstrates precisely what's wrong with the label 'world music.' W/ 'world' meaning native to any locale other than the Western colonial powers, the rest of the world, even if they have little to do w/ each other, gets lumped together, while the West remains out in front. So, tho it's true that Songhoy Blues' features guitar work that resembles John Lee Hooker and Lead Belly - Garba Toure, a member of the band, fessed up, 'Besides, we love electric guitars too much' - Music in Exile isn't merely a blues rock record that happens to come out of Timbuktu. It's Malian too, it's music in exile but home music as well. Special tracks: 'Al Hassidi Terei,' 'Wayei,' 'Petit Merier,' 'Mali.'

Exactly why I started this project! Never heard this album and probably never would have. Enjoyed it immensely without understanding lyrics. Great energy and instrumentation. Will revisit a lot

This reminds me of the ZamRock era in the 70's. Zambia had some really great rock coming out of it during that time. Bands I now listen to, enjoy, and tell my friends to listen to. This album feels like the successor to the ZamRock title. These dude are good. Musically it's great. I can't speak lyrically because I don't know the language but it feels good to listen to regardless. I need to look up more of their stuff this is a damn good album. Ok this whole album is getting added to my library. I've listened to it twice in a row. It is a really great album, especially since I don't know what they are singing about. These guys are great musicians. Made me a fan.

This is cool, really nice guitar playing and vocals. Surprised it doesn't even have its own wiki entry, it's a good album

Very good album. The first few songs are excellent. I will definitely listen to this more.

This was totally new to me, and I loved it. These gents shred on the guitars.

Incredible. Electric blues with an African touch. Usually, this kind of "folk" music tends to be done with native instruments, I really enjoyed hearing blues done with modern instruments played in a Malian style. Good stuff.

This was a solid blues album! I’d never heard of this album or band before but I dug their rock and blues sound. I don’t listen to many foreign albums but I’d definitely pick this one up again and recommend it to others!

4/5. It's a mix of blues jam bands and afrobeat, which both kind of exist in similar circles anyway. It is relaxing and still hype, the vocals kind of giving more of an instrument in and of itself, since I am not able to understand the lyrics. It's repetitive but in a good way, like a jam band. There is a more recent band called Mdou Moctar that has a similar sound, most likely inspired by Songhoy. It's a vibe for sure, and I would definitely relisten to it. Best Song: Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei, Wayei

Imagine if the Black Keys were from Africa, and better.

Buen sonido. Me gustaron mas las canciones tradicionales.

Cool eclectic stuff.

top songs: wayei, soubour, al hassidi terei, jolie, nick, sekou oumarou did not expect this to be so gooddd

Donc le "desert blues", c'est aussi cool qu'on l'imagine en fait.

Thoughts before listening: No idea on this one, but from the title I'm going to guess African blues. Review: I dig this. The African desert blues is a genre that I have not paid a ton of attention to, but its very enjoyable. I especially like the inventive guitar work on this album with quickly picked licks throughout every song. 4-stars

I am not a cool guy, but listening to this album makes me feel like I am

This is the kind of discovery I like! It's blues-rock, but definitely in a way I haven't heard it before. If you can get past the language barrier, it's great!

Didnt know this one. Great listen!

Really enjoyed this ,amazing grooves and guitar work. The fact I couldn't understand anything they were saying whilst still enjoying the music speaks volumes!

I love any form of desert music, so am bloody looking forwards to discovering this band and album - especially given their backstory of displacement through civil war. ---- Very cool album, dropping into bassy rhythms and big grooves as easily as it breaks out into a powerful stomp. Always danceable. Spaces out nicely in the second half, great pacing. Favourite tracks: Sekou Oumaru, Al Tchere Bele, Wayei

Africans influenced by Americans who are influenced by African Americans. Weird cycle but works

Penúltima semana de mayo con esta banda, de la que había grandes chances que no conociese. De entrada, a los oídos es extraño. Es escuchar blues en una idioma totalmente ajeno a las lenguas latinas o romances, con una sonoridad más hipnótica. Me recuerda en mi país a Los Espíritus y a su época de oro, que ojalá regrese. Grata sorpresa. Hasta mañana, gente

So unusual, love it

I was a bit skeptical because it's so recent but I like a bit of Desert Blues and this is an excellent listen, even without understanding the words. I can only hope they're suitably excoriating.

This was excellent. African blues, great sound

This was cool. Fresh sounding, I’d be interested to hear more.

Honestly a good time, even though it isn’t my typical genre.

I was not ready for that guitar! Reading up about them they cite the Beatles, and other early rock bands for why they use electric guitar, though unmentioned I also hear a lot of Led Zeppelin in there as well. Funky, toe tapping all the way through, My only regret is that it's in a language I don't speak.

This album is incredible and so unique. The story behind the album, amazing. The instrumentation, brilliant. And blues in 2015? Heck yeah! They definitely captured the spirit from those before like Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan... It's a foot tapper for sure, and just for kicks, they wrote "Al Hassidi Terei" in 11/16? You don't hear that everyday, and it was awesome! I gotta checkout their other stuff sometime.

Very cool sounds

I really enjoyed this. The layers of vocals beautifully complimented the guitars and the songs typically had space to breathe and develop. Very catchy and would listen to again.

Better than Coldplay

At first I wasn’t sure. Liked the first song very bluesy. But relistened and then listened again. Found myself downloading album and listening to more of their stuff. . Love petit menier and mali. Have no idea what they are saying but maybe pleading or heartbreak in the mali song Blues folk. World

Great background vibes

I liked this a lot. Then I reads about them and liked it even more. Guitar was killer. I have no idea what they said, but I don’t know what any lyrics say. Definitely going to check out more.

Cool sound

It kept looping and I kept not turning it off

Good bops. 4/5

Endlich mal wieder eine echte Überraschung in der Liste. Klasse.

muito bom

esse eh fortíssimo. o documentário que eles tão tbm parece super interessante no mais, música como forma de resistência é pica em qualquer lugar do mundo! chique demais!

Extraordinary.

really a 3.8 but going with a 4. it's really nice and introduced me to something new to appreciate

Listens: 5 Standout Tracks: Irganda, Wayei, Petit Metier Added To Library: TRUE So far, I can't understand anything they're saying (and I don't imagine that's going to change much), and YTM isn't showing any lyrics, but the beats can't be denied! They're hoppin'. Major "Irish jig" qualities to the music. Some of the songs remind me of the Dropkick Murphys. Wow, the album is excellent. 4

Anytime an album explores how another culture blends their traditional sound with a modern western genre I’m all for it. It always fuckin rules

Different, non-English language. Kinda catch though.

Pretty damn interesting, never heard this kind of stuff before

Unexpected. A vibe.

Modern West African blues rock — I like it a lot.

Really enjoyed! A bit repetitive towards the end..

I enjoyed this, made me feel good and for that it gets a 4

Very delightful album and I always am happy to find these surprises 😃

Never heard of this band, will definitely be listening to more!

Overall solid. Started off with a couple really good songs and then sort of lost steam in the back half of the album, but still solid

I thought it was good. Very chill. Feels like traditional African sounds with jazz in a very honest and proper way.

Miellyttävän rento levy, ja kiva kuulla taas afrikastakin jotain uutta! 4/5

Cool desert blues, similar to Tinariwen, cool story. Will be adding this to rotation. 4 - will definitely listen again

This is why I love music so much

Very nice

8/10.

This is the kind of album I really appreciate from this. Very unique and something that I probably would have never picked up otherwise. Their story is fascinating and heartbreaking. Some of the songs do seem to be a bit repetitive but I really enjoyed the bluesy instrumentation.

Cool album. Way cooler backstory. Can you imagine your entire country turning into the town from Footloose? I would love to see biopic about an American or English musician struggling with their manager, fame, or drugs and then we slowly pan over to these guys being like "What are they complaining about?".

Giddy-up, this is the sort of thing I hoped to find on this list. I probably never would have heard about Songhoy Blues otherwise. Great sound, great story. Yeah, this goes on some playlists.

This album rules hard, love it. This is why I signed up for this, because I would have never listened otherwise

Legit Malian blues, rich, earthy and driving. The combo of high-energy, bluesy yet danceable cuts, with tender acoustic yearnings add to the richness. Opening and closing cuts are best. Kudos to the producer for keeping the touch super light and not fixing what isn't broken. The editors do the band and their readers a solid in helping to make this just a a bit better known, but not sure why this was exed. One digs thoroughly, recognizing that one will never be an expert and anything more than the most casual sort of connoisseur.

Went in with zero knowledge or expectation and was sort of blown away. The music and musicianship is great and the vocals were almost instrumental since I wasn't able to understand the lyrics. Such an interesting story behind the music and I am glad that they are able to make it and put it out for people to hear. I really like it.

Dope

By itself it seems just ok, but the story behind the band makes it so much more meaningful.

Never would have listened to or heard of this one without the website. This one was honestly a joy. Relatively contemporary guitar focused rock/blues with catchy beats and good vocals. Their 2017 album Resistance also SLAPS!

Blew me away. Did not know what I was in for and was more than pleasantly surprised. Downloaded the album.

Energetic afro blues, thought this one slapped

Desert blues from Timbuktu. Excellent modern blues. African rhythms and instruments. A fantastic surprise.

Really good! Lots of variety from track to track, and no duds. To be honest, I liked this more than most American blues albums on the list. 4.5

I went into this blind, and man, I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed it, it was a very pleasant surprise. My biggest nitpick is that a lot of the songs did not have a bridge, they just seemed very much A-A-A-A until it faded out. Not really a rock song structure there. But aside from that, I liked the singing (even though I did not know what he was singing about), and the instrumentation was very blues-y. Definitely something I will come back to. Top tracks: "Soubour," "Irgandi," "Mali"

Whoa, I was not expecting those bluesy, southern-sounding guitar licks to kick off the album on Soubour. What an awesome song. Apparently these guys are desert rock. Never heard of the genre before but I am a fan now. This album is a great mix of classic African beats/styling and southern rock (think Skynyrd) guitar plucking and playing. It's like they took Ali Farka Toure and his classic African guitar sounds (almost Spanish styling) and modernized it. I had to stop everything I was doing just to listen to track after track. Irganda, Al Hassidi Terei, Sekou Oumarou, and Nick - also awesome. The second half of the album dipped a little, like they took their foot off the gas, or the wah pedal. It isn't abrupt, as Ai Tchere Bele and Wayei still have good bits of that unique blues sound, but it fades away and gets replaced with a more traditional sound, like Toure's. It's still deft and all (listen to Mali) just not as unique. Easy four stars; thought long and hard about five.

The was a gem I'd never heard before. I love all the different influences and rhythms. I knew nothing of music from Mali before this, and I'm excited to hear more, and especially to hear more from this group.

Wonderful take on the Blues, mixed with literal music escapism. While the hardships they faced must have been unimaginably terrifying, I'm glad they were able to find a community to introduce them to a wider audience!

Wiki: Band member Garba Toure states,"We grew up listening to old music by the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and John Lee Hooker.'' Blijft altijd wonderlijk hoe een fundamenteel figuur in de Amerikaanse rockgeschiedenis vooral op waarde geschat lijkt te worden in West Afrika. Daar wordt hij echt op het zelfde niveau geschaald als namen als The Beatles en Jimi. Maar voor we het weer gaan hebben over die wonderlijke wisselwerking tussen de Delta Blues en West Afrikaanse Blues, wat we al hebben gedaan bij andere platen uit deze regio, moet vooral uitgelicht worden hoe bekwaam deze muzikanten zijn. Ik heb toch wel weer genoten van de bluesy grooves en de elektrische vibe. En voor een album waarbij je het gehele plot wel een beetje mist vanwege de taalbarrière bleef het toch interessant. Vaak merk ik dat ik er snel inkom bij dergelijke albums, maar dat de magie daarna vrij snel wegebt omdat het mijn aandacht niet weet vast te houden. Deze blijft eigenlijk van start tot eind wel boeiend, met een paar memorabele hoogtepunten. Opnieuw een prettige kennismaking met Afro-rock! 8/10 Highlights: Soubour Sekou Oumarou Petit Metier

This is amazing "desert blues" from Mali. I just love the sound. Yes it's blues but goes beyond the usual 12-bar scheme I'm a bit tired of. And it has this African warmth from the voices and typical guitar playing.

Wtf? Nooit gedacht dat Songhoy Blues hierin ging staan. Zalig! Ik kende enkel Worry (wat trouwens een geniaal nummer is). Maar dit is ook echt goed! Top!! 4.2

Wow this was a surprisingly good album. I wasn't expecting such a rock oriented sound that has a tough bluesy song. The guitars are tough an uncompromising and the rhythms are as you'd expect from a west African group. Their story is one of defiance and perseverance and their sound is pure delta blues with a nice rhythmic drive that makes for a beautiful marriage. I enjoyed this a lot and will put it in rotation. 4 stars

I have no idea what they were saying on Music in Exile—but honestly, who cares when the music slaps this hard? The grooves are tight, the rhythm section is on point, and every track pulls you in whether you understand the lyrics or not. It’s one of those albums that proves you don’t need to speak the language to feel the vibe. Great energy, great musicianship, and a sound that sticks with you. Favorite song: Soubour

Magical African blues. Love it.

This was a great listen. Loved their take on blues and other folk music.

A lot of things I like in here! Bluesy country instrumentation, good vocals, cohesive sound

Surprisingly great, exactly the kind of thing I wanted to find from this journey.

Very enjoyable, ridiculously fun guitar :) It was different, and a nice listen. :) I'm teetering on 4 and 5 stars, I'll go 4, but this is really good music and a 5 for someone else I bet :)

Well this was a toe tapper all the way through wow! I guess I love African rock ! Standouts: Soubour Sekou Oumarou Nick Wayei Desert melody

Songhoy Blues - Music in Exile Album Review Music in Exile is a high-energy mix of desert blues and rock, full of driving rhythms, hypnotic guitar work, and pure passion. The band blends traditional Malian melodies with modern rock influences, creating a sound that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in history. Nick and Al Hassidi Terei are standout tracks, bursting with groove and infectious energy, while Desert Melodie is a real highlight—beautifully hypnotic and rich with emotion. The guitar work is sharp and rhythmic, pushing each song forward with an unstoppable momentum that makes you want to move. Despite being inspired by difficult times, the album feels uplifting and full of life. The mix of intricate melodies and pulsing rhythms makes for an engaging listen, and even though some songs feel a little similar, the sheer energy and spirit of the music keep it exciting. Music in Exile proves that desert blues is as powerful as ever, with Songhoy Blues bringing a fresh, modern twist to the genre.

I’m a fan of AfroPsyche. This is pretty cohesive. Enjoyable

Great North African album

I didn't understand a word, but the beats were fire.

Pretty nice album, a little bit blues-y at times, very enjoyable as a background listen, maybe a bit too repetitive if it's your main listen. Enjoyed listening to the album, it was nice.

The music and backstory are equally interesting. 4/5

First time listen - really enjoyed it

Don't know what they are saying but still solid album.

Interesting music. Obviously didn’t understand the lyrics but you could hear the passion

You know, I feel bad that I’ve somewhat come to dread the World category. I tried not to let the language barrier affect the experience, but most of the time I never really get into the album. This might have to be the first one where I didn’t have that problem. The fusion of blues rock with some traditional African influence makes for an album that is accessible and engaging. Who cares if I don’t understand what they are saying (though considering this band’s origins as being literal exiles, I think it would have be nice). There are some moments where the lyrics feels a little repetitive, which is usually a problem on the world albums. But outside of that, I really enjoyed this one. Favorite track: Soubour Other hits: Irganda, Al Hassidi Terei, Wayei, Petit Metier, Nick, Ai Tchere Bele

This is why I signed up to this. To find cool stuff like this.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ — 3[.8] of 5 stars I really like the sound of this album. It hints at older blues and rock music, while also sounding completely different from anything else I've really ever listened to. For me, it was a really interesting listen, that kind of captivated me throughout its runtime (even though i couldnt understand the lyrics lol.) The guitars and instruments sound really fresh and vibrant to me, I don't really know how to explain it, but they're like right there, and the drums and percussion throughout this album is incredible. Loved the energy and guitar work of the opener "Soubour," the nice acoustic closer, "Mali" ends it quite well, and the guitars on "Al Hassidi Terei" and "Ai Tchere Bele" almost reminded me of some math rock or midwest emo tracks; really interesting stuff happening there. The rest of the album kinda melded together quite a bit (probably in part to me not knowing the language lol), but it definitely made for a very unique experience, a very vibe-y experience at that. Favourites: Soubour, Mali, Al Hassidi Terei⭐, Nick.

A lot of potential and I'm glad, given the band's origins, to find out they're still going, although this very much has a first album feel

Super solid desert blues that I was unfmailair with. I dig bands like Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar, so found this a lot of fun

HUh! I finally a Name/Face of this group! I've enjoy their groove for some time now. -I should run their lyrics thru a translator.. -Does that PBS Milk Street food show use their music? -listened thru YouTube w/ a shitty commercial between each song. Really bummed the groove.

What a pleasant surprise! This is the type of thing I was hoping this exercise would point me to. Really liked this record and will check out more of their material!

The first half was definitely better but overall a good album! Sekou Oumarou was my fav

This album is a real jam, 4/5

Jamming. Fun listen. Glad to have discovered it here.

Great beats and rhythms! Wish I knew what they were saying.

really nice and chill, is NOT good for working out though

Ik kan het niet uitleggen maar dit is echt nogal goed

Very cool warm vibes

This kinda rips. Talented dudes.

I thought this was really good!

Ahhh, une tite bouffée d'air frais qui fait plaisir

I actually loved this album, it was such good fun!

This was fantastic. The most surprising albums for me are always non-English music. Just a great album!

Whoa, so good! I was dancing around in my kitchen to this one. Wonderful to hear such good music emerge from such a terrible situation. Renews my faith in humanity.

I would like this a lot if it was in English.

Absolutely what I needed this morning. Brings some sunshine to a grey day!

Enjoyed it - I like the energy and fun. World music delivers something different and its a bit nostalgic for me too which is good.

Why was that unreal

So far outside of my comfort zone but I really had a good time with this while I was shoveling snow. Favorites: soubour, irganda, jolie

A Malian desert blues band? This shit is HOT. Their story is incredible as well. They blend electric blues guitar with traditional rhythms from Mali and it works really well. I’m a big fan of this and I absolutely love discovering new bands and artists just like these guys.

I like the mix of rock and traditional sounds. There is something infectious and joyful about this. What a nice discovery

These are the kinds of albums that make me most excited to get through this project. I know there is so much music out there I've never heard, and wouldn't know where to look. The language barrier isn't an issue for me, as I can barely understand or retain the lyrics for most English songs. I go off melodies, vibes...it's a feeling. Solid groovy, funky, rock. The vibes here are strong, and I respect the hell out of artists who make music out of protest and defiance. These songs needed to be made, and I'm glad they did, despite the laws they were fleeing.

Rock and blues influence is awesome, this is a fun one

Awww yeah I like this. Never heard of Songhoy Blues, but this album’s a jam.

These guys were absolutely ripping, enjoyed this so much more than expected.

I didn't know what to expect going in to this album. Who would have thought that African beats and blues rock would mix so well together though? Certainly not me. I was so surprised to like this at all, let alone as much as I did. The guitar work on this album is an absolute treat. It's nothing mind blowing but it's solid throughout. So many cool little licks and riffs. The opener 'Soubour' has one of the best. 'Irganda' is a little more upbeat and sounds almost like an African disco track. 'Al Tchere Bele' has a bouncy beat that makes you want to tap your foot. The quality does dip ever so slightly in the middle but overall this was a delight to listen to. It's not probably something I'd ever seek out to listen to ever again, but who knows. Maybe one day I'll be in the mood for it. Whether I listen again or not, I can't deny how much I enjoyed it so it's getting four stars.

"Soubour" is an INSANELY CATCHY opener that almost single-handedly justifies buying this debut album. And if the rest never reaches those heights, this marriage between Malian music and American-inspired blues-rock still often feels like a match made in heaven. A lot of guitar riffs *rip* on the livelier cuts, and the more introspective tracks on side two ("traditional"-sounding "Wayei", the gorgeous acoustic guitar-driven "Petit Métier" and "Mali", or the pretty and yet also hypnotic "Jolie") are heartfelt gems with endearing vocal hooks. Listening to those voices as they sing about life in Mali while reading about the band members escaping from war and fanaticism in the north of their country is surely edifying or moving. And speaking of voices, the production values serves those background vocals just as they should be served, in equal footing with the effective work on the instrumentation. *Music In Exile* thus feels like an interesting and accessible entry point into the music of a whole continent -- one I still don't know very much about today, very sadly. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book. Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 461 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 275 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 334

Never heard of them, but they are great.

I'm really in no position to judge how this ranks for this kind of music since I don't really listen to this style very often. I enjoyed it a lot though, and the recommendations after listening to it were amazing too.

Really interesting album, not like something I have heard before. Have added it to my liked songs and will give it another listen through.

In some parts of the world, you can get killed for singing the blues. Some great licks here.

May I interest you in some good music?

I thought the guitar work was good throughout, covering multiple genres.

Enjoyable! 3.5*, rounding up.

Soubour is a great opening song to a well-written Malian blues album in its own language. Very refreshing blues-take under a Malian fusion. Ahead of the curve. 6.8/10.

Enchanting. Great playing and textures. Would have loved the record to be longer

Didn't know what to expect with this album, but was more than pleasantly surprised. African vibes with solid electric guitar playing (Hendrix Style). Definitely would put on again for some good vibes.

Cool! Easy beats to listen to. I enjoyed it.

Don't know the lyrics, obviously. But interesting take on the blues really slaps. Enjoyed it!

nice voices

Det är något med world blues asså

Decent blues album.

fantastic album. haven't listened to this in ages.

I listened to the first few minutes of this earlier. Wow! Just wow. Of course I couldn't understand the lyrics but everything came together in such a way that I felt instantly compelled. In some cases (forgive me!) I will hear a piece of a musical work and have the urge to skip around, to get a general idea of how I feel, but I'm excited to listen to this in full. 45 minutes... it's incredible how long we toil at art only to have such a small piece of work. I found myself moved by a lot of the compositions and would like to learn more about the lyrical content.

Awesome

Super fun album, amazing to have something so outside of what I would usually listen to. Thoroughly enjoyed this Language barrier isn’t really a problem outside of a couple of tracks like Petit Metier that feel more emotional than others and it would be nice to understand the language, but I can’t knock the album because I don’t speak the language. Can’t wait to come back to this again and write out a longer track by track. 4/5

I enjoyed this. Not quite enough to give it a 5, but it was very good.

so incredible so smooth so varied

Well, this was a surprise! I definitely judged the album by the cover and it wasn’t what I thought it was gonna be. Really enjoyed it.

An album I'd never very have discovered without this project, and one I enjoyed

I went into this not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. I didn't understand the lyrics, but was impressed by the instrumentals and vocals.

While it’s not necessarily my type of music, this is still good for what it is, and it’s way different from most other stuff on the list.

Loved it but got repetitive

3.5 Happy to see a non-English album on here. Really enjoyed the music, love some African guitar. Rounding up because I like the variety.

This album is a vibe.

3.7, great texture

liked songs: Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei, Nick I got a lot of King Gizzard vibes from this album. It's a really solid blues record, fun guitar riffs, catchy melodies. There's so much good music out there that isn't in English, but it can be hard to discover when you don't know what to look for. I'll probably be giving the other Songhoy Blues albums a listen. 3.75

75/100. A very chill and easy listen. This album features a consistently high-quality sound across all the tracks, each of which is enjoyable. I hadn’t heard of this group before, but I’ll definitely be checking out their other projects.

Afro Blues Rock having a steady rythm with drums, guitar and Melodic singing.

I've never heard of them, I'm not sure what this is and I can't understand a word of it. But good grief, these funky Malians can rock. It's all the best kind of funky blues-rock and I could listen to this over and over again. I actually did, for the past week, to be fair.

We're jammin'

Really enjoyed this. Not at all what I was expecting.

Quite enjoyable.

Blues done in an African language? That will never work. It bloody does though. It's really good. I just wish I knew what he was singing about. Don't worry about that little matter, it's a really good album.

Really good Blues. Hard to judge lyrics when I can’t understand the language.

Really like this!

This was awesome. Discovered a whole new genre + the back story made it even cooler

Love the guitar work.

Decent sounding African blues

Best one yet Liked that it was international, the story, familiar musical elements but also different

I feel like a lot of the songs would feel appropriate in a movie soundtrack. Their story is fascinating and it is really cool that this album exists. The guitar tones remind me sometimes of Khruangbin which I would also describe as desert blues. Props to these fellas.

This is the Wayei A rich bluesy folk album. It gives off a feeling that these are elevated versions of their native songs. Some of the riffs give of a bit of Home Depot energy, at least on first listen, but at no point did this feel like a chore to get through. It ramps up and dips down comfortably throughout. And when it ramps up, it sends it, and when it dips down, it’s very reserved and lets the feelings through. While I may need to pick a worst, none of them felt particularly worse than any other Best - Nick Worst - Wayei

Great, not listened before, liked it very much.

albums like this are why i use this website. a great find.

I really liked this—blues with an African inflection especially in the vocals. The second track has a bit of a Stairway to Heaven thing going.

Finally a new country! Really funky blues rock. I love music in other languages too. I like the different tempos a lot. Highlights: Soubour Al Hassidi Terei Al Tchere Bele Desert Melodie

I LOVE this. Definitely makes me think of drives to the desert. There's complexity and diversity in instruments and sounds but still cohesive throughout the album. Beautiful vocals and deserty, vibey guitar.

What a great album that I’ll promptly forget and never listen to again

Understanding of words - 0%, enjoyment - 100%

I've never really heard anything like this, so I thought it was really cool!

This album just sounds alive. It’s joyous and expressive in a way that it is somehow unique to African music. At times this recalls earlier west African artists like Ali Farka Toure or Fela Kuli and at times recalls the blues rock of Cream and John Lee Hooker or even modern bands like The Black Keys. Great sounding record, everything is clear and well balanced and the playing is on point. Big fan, 4/5.

Pleasant surprise

This was pretty and I enjoyed it, and I love getting album like this one. I never would have heard of this band or experienced their music and protest over being exiled from their country. I couldn't understand it but I didn't have to, to feel the passion and emotions in their voices. There was a good mix of traditional African sounds, with modern Blues. Mali brought a tear to my eye thinking of the sadness and love they have for their homeland.

Vanhaa kunnon rockia (no siis 2000-lukua MUTTA ei tätä kauheaa 2020-lukua!!), hyvät kitarat, hyvä laulu, hyvä rytmi. Toimii kokonaisuutenakin, vaikka rytmi pysyy kyllä halki levyn aika samana.

This was really good! I especially liked "Irganda", "Al hassidi terei" and "Nick". I will definitely listen to this in the future. Cool to discover music that I would have never found without this site!

What a great album!

Enjoyed this a lot, very fun!

Good blues vibes ! Blues is coming back to his ancestors ! This album definitely deserves to be here ! I really enjoyed

Never would have listened to this if not for this list, and glad I did. Such a unique album.

This 2016 album may be the newest album in the rotation, but holy shit, this album rocks in the most Mali way. The Desert Blues is a new genre for me, and I'm pleased. Favorite Song: "Al Hassidi Terei".

sick. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

I wish I could be as cool as a Malian guitarist.

Ik had nog nooit van ze gehoord maar ik kende elk nummer. Leuk om het nu helemaal te horen. Sahara funk!

let's hear it for non english songs

Cooler Sound und fand ich bislang das bessere der beiden "afrikanischen" Alben

Freu mich immer World Music aus anderen Ländern zu bekommen. Hat mir besser gefallen als z.B: Africá Brasil. Wollte erst 3 Sterne geben, aber ich glaub 4 ist machbar. Würds mir aber nicht nochmal anhören. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine

This was an interesting album. fun mix of blues, funk, and desert guitar sounds. I'd never heard of this band or album, but it was a fun listen.

Day303 - i really liked the ali farka touré album and this one is almost as good. petit metier was my favorite

I typically don't care for the foreign language albums but the music here was amazing.

I really dug the bluesy instrumentals but the vocals would’ve been bad even if I spoke the language.

Surprisingly very good album - big props

Completely unknown to me but surprisingly interresting and enjoyable.

The great thing about this project is discovering music that I would never have the opportunity to listen to otherwise. Great album

This was really nice!

Some great saharan blues! Guitar riffs are strong and representative of the traditional style from Mali and the region.

Songhoy blues are a perfect example of the power of music. Against the backdrop of fundamentalist prohibition of music in Mali, the band offers a thrilling a testimony of joyful rebellion. “Music in exile” is filled with hypnotic fast-paced bluesy riffs and occasional abrupt changes of time signatures that make the album energetic, and soulful. If you love bands like Tinariwen, the desert blues or Afro blues subgenres, you’ll love this. The production is at times imperfect, some songs excessively repetitive, but the overall output is both satisfying and impressive. Their musical bravado is infectious and it’s indisputable their key role in making alternative Afro rock mainstream and worldwide relevant. I’m looking forward to listening to their upcoming album “Heritage”. My favorite track was “Al hassidi terei”.

Very Black Keys to start - I like Sebour with its clear Damon Albarn influence. Less produced as it goes on - fun to hear the group at their original. Would like to see the documentary about them!

Very urgent, even without full appreciation of the crisis they were singing about.

Haven't met a desert blues album I didn't like. I'm surprised I haven't heard this. Honestly, as good as this is, I'm shocked that Tinariwen isn't on this list. They basically invented desert blues. Check out the album "Aman Iman" by them. Also great: Nomad - Bombino Ilana - Mdou Moctar Music from Saharan Cell Phones - V/A

The kind of album where I wish I spoke the language (or could track down translations!) to enjoy these songs even more.

Many good vibes. Even if I don't understand the lyrics, some songs feel like they reach me anyway. Especially liked Petit Metier. Didn't expect to want to relisten at first, but I should remember this one when I need to feel something.

Really cool desert blues. I knew the first song from a while back but not the whole album so was nice to listen to this! Nice groove, slightly same-y towards the end but would defo listen again

Bewitching rhythms, entrancing melodic loops, feverish vocals.

I understand the cultural and social significance of the band. That said, it was okay. It's hard to listen to music when the lyrics are in another language. Great beat and amazing guitar work.

Insane. Blues with Malian Rhythms. Wild Bro.

Absolutely awesome music. What a find in this list!

Bängäs, hyvää pilvenpolttomusaa. Luize sano et tää oli sille aivan täydellinen nappi, aikoo mennä seuraavalle keikalle. ”If songhoy Blues has 1 fan its me. If songhoy Blues has no fans consider me dead”

This album is why you sign up for a process like this. 4*

Fun!

I enjoyed this one - I think having it in a different language added to my enjoyment and I could just enjoy the vibes of the music - I can only imagine the lyrics are pretty sad/angry about needing to flee their country where music was banned due to extremists. The melding of music from different cultures is so interesting to me - this feels a bit hypnotic in places, I like the repeating elements and the power of the grouped voices.

It takes elements from classic blues and rock and roll from the 60's, the first or second song in the album reminds me a bit of Talking Heads, with a guitar riff and looping background vocals. The rest of the album is closer to chuck berry overall, though not very similar because of the emphasis on vocals and percussion. Overall, i like it, its a sweet take on classic rock and roll and blues with elements to bring it to modern times with commentary on the mali life.

I really liked this album a lot. Songhoy Blues' sound is quite unique to me. The songs were some nice blues rock. This was the first time I've ever heard Malian music and I'm glad I did. How this album came to be is an interesting read itself. 4 stars for "Music in Exile".

Foreign language blues Familiar rhythms and feels album to groove to

so good

Thought this was a very good album with some interesting history to it as well.

The music was fun and definitely something I wouldnt have listened to without this experience.

A great take on rock/blues with an African ancestral sound

hell yea

This feels weighty. I love the sound and how tight it is but without being able to understand the words I'm forced to sit back some. Reading the history of this band was interesting. I'll relisten to this for sure. Great blues work.

I enjoyed this. Solid musicianship, nice vibe. Interesting use of the Blues. Felt a little repetitive at times not knowing the language, but toe tapping none the less. Would probably try and check out again.

Similar to the other Mali blues I’ve heard, I like it while listening but it doesn’t usually stick with me. On second listen I was pulled in more, even went and listened to some of their other stuff. Good record, would probably lean 3.5, but will go 4

African rock is good

This album was briefly in the book, but it has been removed in the latest editions. 3.5/5

Good mixing of genres here. Surprisingly enjoyable album.

Þetta er geggjað

It's not the same sound as American Blues, but it is fundamentally related, for instance, the songs are very rhythmic. Many of the tracks are quite catchy, if I could speak the language, I bet it would be fun to sing along. The instrumentation can seem quite simple because the listener's attention is concentrated on the fancy guitar playing, but the stuff going on in the background is what makes the overall sound so deep and polished.

Super catchy. Not a blues guy, but this slaps.

🎧Excellent African rock/desert blues, really enjoyed this. Favorite tracks: Al Hassidi Terei, Petit Metier

Loved the mix of rock with native African melodies in top. I can really get into this. (8.0)★★★★

I really enjoy desert blues and this is no exception, although I think I prefer other artists like Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar

This might be the perfect treadmill album. No clue what the songs are about but the rhythms are fantastic.

Really interesting album with an interesting history behind it. 4/5 because I enjoyed the exposure to blues in Timbuktu.

low key this was fire, it was a bit too long so i’d give it a light 4 but this was actually kind of a banger

I loved the sound

This was fun!

Je ne comprends pas les paroles, la musique est souvent douce et enjouée, mais il y a dans la voix une certaine résignation. Très beau

Decent! This is why I love this list, I would never have heard this without it.

REALLY liked this album. No idea what the lyrics were, of course, but the music was intoxicating!

This was really fun. Much better than I expected. Just an incredible mix of jazz, rock n roll, and blues with a strong desert vibe. Loved it

Første lyt var kæmpe godt. Det svinger virkelig godt. Andet lyt nød jeg lige så meget især sangen Irganda er fed. 3 og 4 lyt var det delux udgaven som fik et lyt. Det var for meget. Der er dog basis for en sjov cover quiz med numre som man kender, men i helt ny fortolkning. Alt i alt er det en ren 4er, som man bliver nærmest begynder at headbange til! (Sidelæns bange.)

Jeg aner ikke hvad de synger. Men det betyder ikke noget. Det her album bliver jeg glad af. Foden vipper og hovedet bopper. Det vil være en perfekt booking til en solbeskinnet tidlig eftermiddag på en festival.

Blues würde ich das ja nicht nennen, man kann es sich aber durchaus anhören!

Great, creative instrumentals. Petit Metier was my favorite.

Every once in a while you get a gem that you’d never have heard of if it weren’t for this book.

this is like…very good 3.5/5

non so se mi verra' voglia di risentirlo pero' e' davvero carino, andato via senza annoiare.

en stark fyra. riktigt svängigt och gött sound.

Great vibe. Haven’t really appreciated blues this much before

Once “Soubour” started a turned up the volume. Very Cool stuff.

OK, but this kind of slays. No expectations going in, and absolutely chuffed.

Even without understanding the language, the music itself was very enjoyable

This is a fantastic entry for this type of list.

Enjoyed this!

Born out of pain yet songs of joy and presents the most tasteful vibrant north African blues rock with some impressive instrumental swirls and licks.

Thoroughly great, I enjoyed every song a lot, the only thing really missing for me is more variation in the production of the songs, and a couple of the solos are a bit too much, but I'm hard to please in that realm anyway.

Amazing guitar rhythms. Interesting blend of African melodies mix with the Blues. First listen. Not bad.

This one got me moving. I always find it fascinating how when I hear African rhythms and guitars, it becomes so clear how much of our American music of so many different genres owes allegiance.

Fedt og dejlig med noget anderledes

Unique mix but very enjoyable. First African rock/blues I've come across and it worked very well, impressed

One word: Goddamn.

Unexpectedly, we both really liked this. There’s a range of styles, all interesting.

Solid interesting album, good stuff.

love the rhythms, I want to move

Ótimo álbum, não conhecia os artistas. A pegada de blues combinada com a história deles é simplesmente incrível. Tem uma super pegada "Cowboy Bebop".

When I saw the cover, my heart dropped because I thought it was going to be yet another hip hop or (c)rap album, however this is a lovely light and tuneful production worthy of another listen.

Lot of fun. The African music almost always hits. I love Casablancas so was even more exciting reading that Cult Records helped release this. It didn’t disappoint even though my expectations were a bit higher than they should’ve been. Such a fun fusion and such an amazing story of how such awful circumstances drove this band together. Rating: 4.2

What a lovely album. Wouldn't say it's Blues, but who cares. Both the bass and acoustic (and brief electric) guitar performances are fantastic, and the vocals slide in with complementary ease. Some of the cleanest mastering I've ever heard *chef's kiss*. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Soubour, Irganda