New and their first studio album “100% Sahara Guitar” from Tuareg band Etran de L’Aïr is exactly what the title promises.
It’s almost 30 years since Etran de L’Aïr (Stars of the Aïr) started playing at weddings in Agadez, but they started to quickly gain recognition internationally just about six years ago with their Sahel Sounds debut “No. 1”, followed three years later by “Agadez”, a record that became an instant classic of Saharan blues-rock.
Now on their third release “100% Sahara Guitar”, which is their first proper studio album, they decided to keep their songs as direct and intuitive as on their live-recorded material, but used the chance to experiment with their sound. They thickened it up, adding even more guitar layers, hence the 100% in the title (could be 200% though).
While Etran de L’Aïr’s music might feel contemplative and calming, some of the songs are actually wake up calls. In “Erkazamane”, they sing in a chorus: “We hope our community stays strong and united, hand-in-hand / I am urging all of my people, whoever they are, to finally wake up!”
Stream “100% Sahara Guitar” LP on Bandcamp and Spotify.
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