Tinariwen Announces New Album ‘Amatssou’ & Shares Single

Tinariwen will release a new album entitled Amatssou featuring the lead single, “Tenere Den,” on May 19 through the Wedge record label. The Tuareg band confirmed a batch of tour dates, marking their first performances in the United States since 2019.

Tinariwen consists of co-founders Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Touhami Ag Alhassane and Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni, along with bassist Eyadou Ag Leche, percussionist Said Ag Ayad and guitarist Elaga Ag Hamid. The group initially intended to record their ninth studio album in Nashville after being invited by Jack White to use his private facility. The COVID-19 pandemic forced those plans to be scrapped, which had included working with local country musicians Wes Corbett and Fats Kaplin.

Acclaimed producer/musician Daniel Lanois was supposed to be part of those ill-fated sessions in Nashville, and after attempting to meet Tinariwen in Africa proved too difficult, the participants – Tinariwen, Lanois, Corbett and Kaplin – were left with working remotely.

Borrowing gear from fellow Tuareg band Imarhan, Tinariwen set up a makeshift recording studio in a tent at the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Djanet, “an oasis in the desert of southern Algeria located in Tassili N’Ajjer National … known for its prehistoric cave art.” Lanois tracked his parts in Los Angeles, Corbett and Kaplin (the latter playing pedal steel, violin and banjo on six of the 10 songs) recorded in Nashville and Kabyle percussionist Amar Chaoui worked out of Paris.

According to press materials:

Tinariwen set out to explore the shared sensibilities between their trademark desert blues and the vibrant country music of rural America. Amatssou is Tamashek for “Beyond The Fear,” and it fits. Tinariwen have always been characterized by their fearlessness, single-handedly inventing a guitar style that has captured the world’s imagination. They call it ishumar or assouf (“nostalgia” in Tamashek). The rest of the world has come to know it as the Tuareg blues. It is music that is imbued with sorrow and longing but it’s also music to dance to, to forget our cares.

Tinariwen’s first stateside tour since before the pandemic begins on May 27 in Chicago. The band then performs in Portland on May 30 and in Seattle on May 31. Stops in California follow on June 2 in Berkeley and June 3 in Los Angeles. The run then heads to New York City on June 5, Boston on June 6 and Washington D.C. on June 7. A European tour follows in mid-June and July. Scroll down for the full tour itinerary and ticketing links.

Stream the lead single, “Tenere Den,” which is said to “pay homage to the Tuareg revolution in the Kel Adagh region of Mali,” off Tinariwen’s upcoming new album Amatssou, below:

Amatssou Tracklist

1. Kek Algham
2. Tenere Den
3. Arajghiyine
4. Imzad (Interlude)
5. Tidjit
6. Jayche Atarak
7. Imidiwan Mahitinam
8. Ezlan
9. Anemouhagh
10. Iket Adjen
11. Nak Idnizdjam
12. Tinde (Outro)