Customer Reviews

Introducing Etran Finatawa

5 star:		(4)
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I underestimated how much I was going to like this CD. It has grown on me. I bought it months ago but did not rediscover its beauty until the last couple of weeks, and now I can't stop playing it. Some of its music is trancelike and stays with you.

This is truly the best, purest, most natural, traditional and richest expression of rock music. It is the rock music of the desert, of nomads. It is not the angry, urban, synthesized rock of the West. It is trancelike, voodooesque, and has a call and response thing to it which is uniquely African, yet this is unlike any other type of African music one may hear. It is contemporary African rock. It is sort of a blend of African rock and Gnawa (black Moroccan) music, so original and magical it's hard to describe.

It is also refreshing in that it is not religious like much of the Middle Eastern music that attracts listeners of world music: this is secular, traditional Saharan rock. There is not a track on this CD that I do not like, and if you want to question everything you thought you knew about African music, and if you're looking for a trancelike modern Afro-Saharan vibe, buy this.

This type of music grows on you more and more as you listen to it... West African polyrhythms meets Touareg Ichumar-style guitar (think Tinariwen or Tartit) meets percussion reminiscent of Middle-Eastern music- overlay all of that with the Wodaabe high tenor solo singing (reminiscent of throat-singing). Mix it all in, add a good dose of showmanship, then consider that my reviewing skills are abysmal, and go buy this album. And the next one too.

"Introducing Etran Finatawa" is a distinctive and satisfying addition to the latest wave of "Desert Blues" music. The production quality is excellent, with a natural, acoustic feel. If you like the music of bands like Tinariwen, you will most likely enjoy this music as well. Highly recommended!

I heard about this band on NPR's The World. I found the music so enchanting that I had to have it. This CD is very good and as I listen to it again and again, I cant help but tap my feet to its tunes.