Essam

Description

ESSAM is the bands fourth album, recorded with the same core lineup, but marks asignificant shift in their sound and approach. Musically, it marks a departure from the rocky,bluesy, psychedelic Tuareg guitar-driven sound influenced by Tinariwens heritagemovingtoward something more open, modern, and the first time, their long-time sound engineer Maxime Kosinetz stepped in as travelled to Tamanrasset with Emile Papandreou (of the French duo UTO), a multi-instrumentalist who introduced electronic elements by sampling live instruments andreprocessing them in real time with a modular synthesizersubtly reshaping the bandssonic album was recorded mostly live, in one big room at Aboogi Studiothe bands ownrehearsal and recording space in Tamanrasset. The studio, a converted concert hall, hasbecome a kind of cultural hub for the local youth. Friends dropped by during the sessions tocontribute handclaps, vocals, and just be part of the energy. Its a space where peoplegather, hang out, play dominoes, smoke chichaa rare communal spot in a city thatdoesnt offer many for young people, somewhat like a youth and contextthe creative shift, the live recording process, the atmosphere around Aboogimight be interesting threads to explore in the conversation.