This bunch of dudes has a unique take on music that is heavily influenced by the harsh terrain of the Sahara desert in their homeland of Tuareg. Often described as “Desert rock” and “Sahara blues,” their fifth and latest effort Tassili finds the band branching out more and collaborating with the members of TV on the Radio and Wilco, to name a few. The music is soothing, though the lyrics not in English. But do not fret, the album has all the lyrics translated for you, good listener! The lyrics almost take a backseat due to the language barrier, but the guitar work is beautiful and the vocal harmonies still keep the listener hooked. “Walla Illa” and “Tamiditin Tan Ufrawan” will have you joining in on the chorus even though you will have no idea what you are saying, unless you got the CD (see above). If you cannot seem to get past the language barrier, “Tenere Taqqim Tossam” has an English segment courtesy of TV on the Radio. The album starts to feel slightly redundant by the time the last couple of songs are reached, but this is a small price to pay for such a stellar A side. (Anti-, anti.com) Scott Wolfe