Influential Tuareg band Tinariwen is set to release its ninth album, Amatssou, on May 19th via Wedge.

Because of Covid-restrictions, the album was recorded in a makeshift studio tent at Tassili N’Ajjer National Park in Algeria, with equipment borrowed from another renowned Tuareg ensemble, Imarhan.

Amatssou (‘beyond the fear’ in Tamashek language) was produced by Daniel Lanois, and features collaborations with Los Angeles-based musicians Fats Kaplin, Wes Corbett as well as Kabyle percussionist Amar Chaoui. 

The album aims to address Mali’s current socio-political struggles and explores the similarities between the desert blues and rural American country music.

“Tenere Den”, the first single extracted from the LP, commemorates the Tuareg Rebellion and enjoys an animated videoclip directed by Alexis Jamet.

Find out more about Amatssou and “Tenere Den” following this LINK