Sahara Rough Guide
Moorish traditions to desert rock and roll

Travelling across Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Western Sahara, The Rough Guide To The Music Of The Sahara encompasses the hauntingly beautiful and dramatically different sounds of the desert. Compiled by Saharan music expert Andy Morgan, this album features driving desert rock and roll, Moorish traditions and remarkable guitar music. Including the magnificent desert blues of BBC award-winners Tinariwen (very popular at WOMADELAIDE) and the funky traditional sound of Kel Tin Lokiene among other outstanding performers, this album celebrates the diversity of Saharan musical culture.

"Bigger than Europe, but with a population only a third that of London, the Sahara has never quite been a place to the Western mind - more a vast absence. But, thanks to the unlikely success of Tuareg nomad band Tinariwen and their Festival in the Desert, this brutal immensity of sand and rock is developing a powerful musical identity - one that is fruitfully explored on this invigorating compilation." - Daily Telegraph, UK

Artists include - Compagnie Jellouli & Gdih, Malouma, Tinariwen, Hasna El Becharia, Chet Féwet, Aziza Brahim, Nayim Alal, Mariem Hassan, Tartit Ensemble, Seckou Maïga, Groupe Oyiwane, Kel Tin Lokiene and Sahraoui Bachir.

What they say about NI..