The Perils Of Not Being First

This album is an excellent example of the genre that has become known as desert blues. Although I dislike the sloppy shorthand used by world music reviewers in suffixing musics from all over the world with the word blues, it probably makes the most sense in west and north Africa where the links are clear both historicaly and musically. The album is called Introducing Etran Finatawa, and the band combine the nomadic cultures of the Tuareg and Wodaabe peoples of Niger. Traditional percussion is used alongside electric guitars and the typical loping "camel gait" rhythms. There is a very obvious comparison to be made with another Tuareg desert blues band, Tinariwen, who I also have an album by. If forced to choose, I would say that Etran Finatawa are the better band, stronger vocally and more fluent players. However, as far as western consciousness and the music biz marketing machine are concerned, they will inevitably suffer from being second to arrive on the scene. Outside of specialist enthusiasts, more casual followers of world music / rock will only have room for one desert blues band and that's more likely to be Tinariwen. If you would like to check a bit deeper though, then here's a recommendation for Etran Finatawa.