Album review: Tamikrest, Chatma (Glitterbeat Records)

In honour of the role women have had in keeping families strong and together during the devastation wrought by the imposition of Sharia law, the title of this Tuareg band’s third album translates as “Sisters”. They’ve followed this through by having female vocalist Wonou Walet Sidati (once of Tinariwen) join them on several numbers. The best of these is “Itous”, because it breaks away from the rolling lope so familiar to fans of Tuareg music, favouring instead a rock steady beat.

Elsewhere it’s business as usual, only with a lusher production than expected and a tad too much emphasis on Western rock’s tired tropes in some of the licks. It’s a fine line, gentlemen: please don’t go over it any further.