Song of the Day: Bombino “Amidinine”

Earthy, exotic, and psychedelic with a heavy rock groove

African-born guitarist Bombino is an ethnic Tuareg*, a nomadic tribe that roams the Sahara Desert. To record his just-released second album on Nonesuch Records, the aptly-titled Nomad, Bombino traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to record with the Black Keys’ guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach. The result is an altogether remarkable collection of songs that blends the clean, liquid melodicism of Bombino’s African guitar-playing with the polished, just-right grit of the Black Keys’ Delta Blues-inspired rock sound.

Earthy, exotic, and psychedelic with a heavy rock groove, lead track “Amidinine” (roughly translated to “My Friend”) chugs along joyously in a compelling aural mix of Jimi Hendrix pyrotechnics, George Harrison spirituality, and Ali Farka Touré guitar groove (look him up!). Recommended.

*yes, this is where the Volkswagen Touareg gets its name.

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