Tamikrest

Tamikrest is a Malian band that plays the electric guitar centered hybrid form of music known as Desert Blues that merges traditional Tamasheq (Tuareg) music with western rock. Their sound is roughly in the same ballpark as some other bands from the same region known for their use of West African rhythms and circular riffs, such as Tinariwen and Terakaft, though perhaps they stay a bit on the smoother side at times. They are led by guitarist Ousmane Ag Mossa, whose mastery of the instrument is on a par with what audiences have come to expect from artists working in this particular space. His voice is younger in texture but certainly carries that sun burnt, dry quality that is almost ingrained in the genre. There is a sense of lyricism and yearning that comes across loud and clear in their songs despite any language barrier, paired with some excellent songwriting and execution.