The Rough Guide to Desert Blues

The Rough Guide to Desert Blues
Compilation album by Various artists
Released 26 July 2010
Genre World, Tichumaren
Length 113:58
Label World Music Network
Full series chronology
The Rough Guide To The Music Of Afghanistan
(2010)The Rough Guide To The Music Of Afghanistan2010		 The Rough Guide to Desert Blues
(2010)		 The Rough Guide To Salsa Dance
(2010)The Rough Guide To Salsa Dance2010
Complete list

The Rough Guide To Desert Blues is a world music compilation album originally released in 2010. Desert blues refers to the music of the Mandinka and related nomad groups of the Sahara, who perform a style of music considered the root of the American Blues genre. This was first popularized in the West by Ali Farka Touré and has more recently been carried by a new wave of artists such as Tinariwen.[1]

Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the album contains two discs: an overview of the genre on Disc One, and a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting Etran Finatawa. Disc One features nine Malian tracks, two Sahrawi, and one each from Mauritania and Niger. The compilation was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network.[2][3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Robert Christgau[4]A-
PopMatters[5]
Limelight[6]
Songlines[6]
Allmusic[1]

The album met positive reviews upon release. Robert Christgau called the compilation an "accessible variant" of the Rough Guide to the Music of the Sahara.[4] He went on to include it in his top albums of 2010.[7] Chris Nickson of AllMusic named it a "thorough introduction" to desert blues but called the Amadou & Mariam track "the odd one out", claiming it doesn't represent the genre.[1] David Maine of PopMatters said that while albums in the series could be hit-and miss, this one had "far more hits than misses." Calling Tinariwen "the greatest band in the world right now, bar none", Maine explained that he'd long wondered whether similar acts were "ripping off" Tinariwen, and that the album had emphatically proven that they are "not simply mimicking" the band's success.[5]

Track listing

Disc One

No.TitleArtist (Country)Length
1."Ténéré Wer Tat Zinchegh"Terakaft Mali4:49
2."Bambugu Blues"Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Mali5:06
3."Mali Dje"Ali Farka Touré Mali5:39
4."Tenhert"Tinariwen Mali5:29
5."Tefla Madlouma"Mariem Hassan Western Sahara4:09
6."Aitimani"Etran Finatawa Niger7:06
7."Yarab"Malouma Mauritania5:04
8."Beaux Dimanches"Amadou & Mariam Mali3:23
9."Kaïri Kaïri"Samba Touré Mali5:23
10."Achachore I Chachare Akale"Tartit Mali4:31
11."El Profeta"Jalihena Natu Western Sahara4:46
12."Mashi"Mamane Barka Niger3:50
13."Aratane N’adagh"Tamikrest Mali5:10

Disc Two

All tracks on Disc Two are performed by Etran Finatawa.

No.TitleLength
1."Surbajo"5:32
2."A Dunya"5:04
3."Iledeman"3:41
4."Aliss"5:49
5."Maleele"3:52
6."Iriarer"4:56
7."Ekenan"5:40
8."Anadjibo"5:27
9."Ronde"5:07
10."Heeme"4:22

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nickson, Chris. "The Rough Guide to Desert Blues". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  2. ↑ World Music Network. "About Us - The WMN Story". Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  3. ↑ Discogs. "Various – The Rough Guide To Desert Blues". Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  4. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide". MSN Music. Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  5. 1 2 Maine, David. "Various Artists: The Rough Guide to Desert Blues". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  6. 1 2 "The Rough Guide To Desert Blues". World Music Network. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  7. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "2010: Dean's List". Retrieved 14 Jan 2014.
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