Customer Reviews

Aman Iman: Water is Life

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're bored with American rockers who like to pretend that they're sticking it to the man, make yourself familiar with the lyrical and musical wonders of Tinariwen. Made up of former freedom fighters in the quest for the independence of the Touareg people from the colonialist regimes of North Africa, the musicians of Tinariwen possess a true revolutionary wisdom that Americans can only dream about, as they really have been persecuted by the authorities in their home country of Mali. Tinariwen also has a very unique musical history. Legend has it that early in their history as a band, the musicians happened to come across a stash of old blues records and dilapidated electric guitars, all of which had been unknown in their country. Tinariwen has combined a unique interpretation of the blues, homegrown guitar and bass techniques, and the traditional music of the Touareg people - thus creating a relentlessly fascinating sound that is as sparse and haunting as the immense Saharan landscape in which they dwell.

The liner notes for this album state that many of the songs were written over Tinariwen's 25-year history. Since they were not able to record professional-quality releases until recent years, it appears that Tinariwen has spread this extensive backlog across their recent releases. Therefore, this album sounds very similar to Tinariwen's last album, the equally fascinating Amassakoul. But rest assured that more is definitely better in the case of this band's equally exotic and accessible music. Established fans will especially appreciate the songs on this album that illustrate Tinariwen's effortless ability to branch out and expand their vision. The opener "Cler Achel" is a swinging blues-rock workout that is sparsely percussive and nearly funky, "Toumast" incorporates haunting effects from dub reggae, and "Assouf" features some wicked wah-wah that sounds like what Jimi Hendrix might have come up with if he had traveled with Brian Jones or Robert Plant through the Sahara. The masterful and exotic Touareg style of vocal arrangement is also prevalent throughout this album, particularly in "Imidiwan Winakalin" and "Awa Didjen." Tinariwen deliver music that is truly revolutionary - especially for listeners who crave enlightenment through intriguing and exotic new sounds. [~doosmdayer520~]

Tinariwen has often been described as "John Lee Hooker in the Sahara." While that baseline is a decent enough introduction, it's not nearly enough to embrace this band. This album follows Amassakoul, my first Tinariwen CD, and Aman Iman surpasses Amassakoul in every way. Depending on your mood, the music is soothing, hypnotic, challenging and stirring. The variations worked on repetitive figures reward repeated listening. If you haven't heard Tinariwen, Aman Iman is a great place to start.

This startlingly bluesy album reflects the sharper focus their sound has recently achieved. Guitars underpin everything, with solo voices rising out in defiance or exaltation: the opening homage to a freedom fighter killed in 1995 is marvellously eloquent, as are the appeals for peace and the hope for a future return to the homeland.
With many of the tracks recorded in the open air at night in the desert, this is an album with a rugged, epic atmosphere all of its own.
Is this to be the band that punches through the glass ceiling that has kept world music out of the mainstream? "Yes!" shout its supporters. And since its "discovery" six years ago, this group of one-time Touareg guerrilla fighters has deservedly risen to the top of the world music charts.
The liner notes honour their subject-matter by not only giving the full lyrics both in translation and in the vernacular, but also making a stab at rendering them in the ancient Touareg alphabet. The sound is beautifully mastered.The mainstream should be so lucky.
Rokku Mi Rokka
Afriki
Segu Blue
Savane
The Mande Variations
The Garifuna Women's Project

Aman Iman: Water is Life is simply outstanding. As a long-time world music fan, the label these guys have earned in world music circles as somewhat of a "gateway group" to international artists made me suspect, but from the first bars of Cler Achel my circumspection turned to instant fandom. As other reviewers have noted, the irrepressible beats of these nomadic musicians are infectious yet invite contemplation. The other day, driving down the highway, Assouf (track 11) came on. I probably listened to the first minute about 10 times. It sneaks up on you; its beat is slower than most of the other tracks, and a distorted guitar somewhere between Ali Farka Toure, Santana, and Jimi Hendrix shatters the building percussion in an indescribable way. This is one of the few albums I can have on loop and not mind, since every new trip through the album is a journey into their stark nomadic environment. Buy this album, ye who wish to try world music for the first time and ye who are experienced fans of international tunes alike; I virtually assure complete satisfaction with the complex mix of influences that Tinariwen blend almost seamlessly.

This recording, by a group of Toureg musicians from Mali in North Africa, is the most refreshing music I have heard for a long time. Certainly a blues album but not from the Delta, Chicago or even North America at all ,rather from the African desert, yet there are other strong influences-the loping Arabic rhythms, hypnotic melodies,and a very "open" sound.

I cannot understand the vocals but this matters little as the music is universal and magic.The quality of the musicians and the recording engineers are first class with production techniques kept to a minimum.

If you like blues, jazz, or musicians such as Ry Cooder you will welcome this fresh sounding, unadulterated record into your collection.

"Aman Iman:Water is Life" sounds like something snatched from the desert-dwelling Fremen in Frank Herbert's epic Dune series. In its third album, Tinariwen is still offering hypnotic,magical desert grooves. Their songs meld effortlessly into each other like swirling desert sands. They sing songs of longing and exile, coming from the burning desert lands.

The opening song,"Cler Achel:I spent the day",is an electrifying song about longing. "Matadjem Yinmixan:Why all this hate between you?" is a joyous exhortation to put an end to tribal and factional rivalries. "Ahimana:Oh my soul" is spare,like a spiritual. "Toumast:The People" is a rallying cry. All the songs are spiced up with handclaps,and ululations.

"Water is Life" has brought mainstream appeal to the desert rockers Tinariwen,though they sound nothing like Clear Channel or Top 40 radio. They have received plaudits in Bono's Africa-themed Vanity Fair issue as well as from Blender magazine,but they have kept their gritty desert sound. "Water is Life" shows that Mali's deserts are alive--with musical water. They are an oasis in the wasteland of popular music.

This Music shows how connected Southern Black Blues music is to the Motherland. THESE GUYS SOUND LIKE THEY WERE RAISED IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA,But they are from the Sahara Desert in Africa,no doubt about it. They rock and boogie Just like John Lee Hooker or RL Burnside with a strong african/arabian sound! THIS IS GREAT MUSIC!

They play and sing from such an incredibly rich, raw, deep place. If you listen, the spirit of this music will make some part of your body move--guaranteed! Makes me want to dance wildly with them around a fire in the cool desert evening. Give a listen to Tinariwen (ten-AR-i-when.)

Aman Iman: Water is Life the latest, brilliantly vibrant album by the band Tinariwen, a group of Tuareg nomads-turned-rock-performers. Known for the daring, hard-edged bluesy sound and their commitment to Tuareg independence, Tinariwen presents Aman Iman with documentation offering transliteration and English translation of the lyrics, which speak profoundly of exile, resilience, and determination in spite of strife and division. Aman Iman speaks out against both governmental dominance and the tendency to look too much inward and too little outward within traditional Tuareg society itself. A passionate, soul-charged album that embraces life and calls out for change. The tracks are Cler Achel (4:25), Mano Dayak (5:41), Matadjem Yinmixan (5:43), Ahimana (5:43), Soixante Trois (4:56), Toumast (4:25), Imidiwan Winakalin (4:25), Awa Didjen (4:11), Ikyadarh Dim (3:35), Tamatant Tilay (3:19), Assouf (3:56) and Izarharh Tenere (5:02).

A very special and unique recording of NORTH AFRICA BLUES blended with traditional sounds of the east by AMAN IMAN .What is presented here with their music is a movie in which the sound has replaced picture describing at its utmost the adventurous scenery of the nomadic life in NORTH AFRICA .just enjoy this interesting movie .