Tinariwen Records Longtime Live Favorite ‘​​Kek Alghalm’

Tinariwen released a new single, “Kek Alghalm,” from their upcoming album, Amatssou. The song, a longtime staple of their live performances, was recorded by the Tuareg band for the first time.

Tinariwen’s ninth studio album, Amatssou will be released on the Wedge record label on May 19. The band – 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 – was invited by Jack White to record at his facility in Nashville. The pandemic derailed those plans, which had included working with local country musicians Wes Corbett and Fats Kaplin.

Forced then to work remotely, producer/musician Daniel Lanois, who intended to be part of the sessions in Nashville, joined the project after unsuccessfully attempting to meet the band in Africa. With gear loaned from fellow Tuareg band Imarhan, Tinariwen set up a makeshift recording studio in a tent at the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Djanet. Lanois tracked his parts in Los Angeles, Corbett and Kaplin recorded in Nashville and Kabyle percussionist Amar Chaoui worked out of Paris.

Tinariwen will tour the United States for the first time since 2019 beginning on May 27 at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. See tour dates below.

“Kek Alghalm,” featuring Corbett on banjo, can be heard with its video: