songhoy blues optimisme

​Songhoy Blues  (from the album Optimisme available on Fat Possum Records)
 
They come out swinging for the fences, connect, and knock it out of the park. Labeled a ‘desert Blues Rock band’, Timbuktu’s Songhoy Blues will at times keep the trad Blues portion in their back pocket when emphasizing Blues Rock and exploring sonic desert psychedelics. On Optimisme, any base of traditional Blues is buried but never forgotten, the Rock force of Songhoy Blues carries a Stooges-charge dirty Blues along with traditional West African rhythms forging into a mind-expanding trance. A quick drum roll gives way to a fist pumping, Garage Punk riff that drives the album opener in “Badala”, a cut that has a quick stadium chant that sets a raw tone.
 
Tracks like “Assadja”, “Gabi”, and “Barre” dig into traditional West African rhythms while reminding that Songhoy Blues is a Blues Rock band as guitars deliver repetitive melodies, heavy with psychedelic rhythms. “Fey Fey” opens up with a melodic blast that nods to Mahavishnu Orchestra while “Por Toi” plays as a world-ballad before dropping into a pulsing dance cut ripe for the dancefloor. ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to be happy, keep fighting today’ is the motivational phrase within the only cut sung in English, and the record wrapping with the slowed down “Kouma”. Optimisme is a Rock’n’Roll package with a World Music flair busting with groove, glorious in raw underproduction. Songhoy Blues are a perfect syncing of international flair who play like your life depends on Blues Rock music for air.
 
Listen and buy the music of Songhoy Blues on AMAZON
For more information head on over to the Songhoy Blues website
 

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