Amassakoul Explained

Amassakoul
Type:	studio
Artist:	Tinariwen
Cover:	Tinariwen-amassakoul.jpg
Released:	Oct 12, 2004
Genre:	Tishoumaren African blues
Length:	45:53
Label:	World Village
Prev Title:	The Radio Tisdas Sessions
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	Aman Iman
Next Year:	2007

Amassakoul ("The Traveler" in Tamashek) is a 2004 album by the Tuareg band Tinariwen. In a review of the album, Chris Nickson of AllMusic stated, "This is angry and passionate; it's dangerous music in the very best sense. Western bands might have forgotten how to rock as if their lives depended on it; Tinariwen can teach them."^[1] Jon Lusk of the BBC noted, "you'll be happy to discover that this music has a similar power to transport you to the heats of the Sahara."^[2] In a review of the album, PopMatters concluded that "this is a band whose music is not only mesmerizing but is destined to find wide appeal to many listeners of all ages."^[3]

The song "Chet Boghassa" on this album was later covered by Mdou Moctar.^[4]

Personnel

All information from album liner notes.^[5]

• Ibrahim Ag Alhabib – lead vocals and lead guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11), guitar (tracks 6, 9, 10), flute (tracks 7, 9, 11), backing vocals (tracks 4, 5, 6, 10, 11)
• Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni – lead vocals and lead guitar (tracks 4, 5), guitar (tracks 8, 10), percussion (tracks 2, 9), backing vocals (all tracks except 4, 5, 7)
• Alhassane Ag Touhami – lead vocals and lead guitar (tracks 6, 10), guitar (tracks 1, 2), backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11)
• Eyadou Ag Leche – bass (all tracks except 7, 9, 11), backing vocals (all tracks except 7), percussion (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10)
• Elaga Ag Hamid – guitar (all tracks except 7, 11), backing vocals (all tracks except 7)
• Said Ag Ayad – percussion (all tracks except 7, 11), backing vocals (all tracks except 3, 4, 7)
• Bakaye Ag Ayad – percussion (all tracks except 4, 7, 11)
• Mina Walet Oumar – backing vocals (all tracks except 7, 10)
• Wounou Walet Oumar – backing vocals (tracks except 2, 4)
• Issa Dicko – backing vocals (track 2)
• Bastien Gsell – flute (track 9), didjeridoo (track 11)

References

1. Web site: Amassakoul - Tinariwen Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. en-us. 2019-11-20.
2. Web site: BBC - Music - Review of Tinariwen - Amassakoul. Lusk. Jon. www.bbc.co.uk. en-GB. 2019-11-20.
3. Web site: Tinariwen: Amassakoul. 2005-01-04. PopMatters. en. 2019-11-20.
4. Web site: Mdou Moctar - Afelan. 2013-08-25. The List. en-GB. 2019-11-20.
5. Book: Tinariwen . Liner notes: Amassakoul . 2004.