Name: Imarhan
Brand: Imarhan

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

slang50094lp

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "slang50094lp"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

180 Gram Black Vinyl with Download and Poster Art

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2017-01-02

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4250506815110

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "4250506815110"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Imarhan

Genre GB

African

Label GB

City Slang

City Slang is an independent German label founded by Christof Ellinghaus. Renowned for its eclectic roster, the label encompasses everything from rock to post-rock and electronic music.

With a diverse range of artists, City Slang has become known for its unique and innovative approach to music. From established acts to emerging talent, the label consistently delivers high-quality releases that push boundaries and defy genre conventions.

As a leading force in the industry, City Slang has been instrumental in shaping the sound of contemporary music. With their distinctive style and commitment to artistic integrity, they have garnered a loyal following of music enthusiasts worldwide.

Imarhan is a talented music artist known for their unique blend of traditional Tuareg music with modern influences. Hailing from Tamanrasset, Algeria, Imarhan has gained international recognition for their captivating melodies and soulful vocals. With their debut album released in 2016, they have since been captivating audiences around the world with their energetic live performances and infectious rhythms. Imarhan's music seamlessly combines elements of rock, blues, and funk with traditional North African sounds, creating a truly mesmerizing musical experience.

Imarhan's journey as musicians began at an early age when they were introduced to the rich musical heritage of the Tuareg people. Drawing inspiration from their cultural roots and personal experiences, Imarhan's songs often touch upon themes of love, longing, and social issues. Their lyrics are thought-provoking and poetic, reflecting the complexities of life in the Sahara desert.

With each release, Imarhan continues to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be a contemporary Tuareg band. Their innovative sound has garnered critical acclaim from both fans and critics alike. Whether you're a fan of world music or simply appreciate great artistry, Imarhan's music is sure to captivate your senses and leave you wanting more.

Back In Stock

Every purchase online or instore gets a free Rough Trade / City Slang sampler CD.

The band's debut album is intent on dismantling the ideas western listeners have about popularized Tuareg music. This new wave of Tuareg musicians sound very different to the desert distortion that accompanies groups like Mdou Moctar or Group Inerane. Instead, it finds a calm and passionate soul, provides sumptuous slow burners, and a complexity of composition that hasn't been demonstrated by previous music exported from the Saharan people's musical repertoire. Even if the band has a direct DNA link to trail blazers Tinariwen - (Eyadou Ag Leche of Tinawiren is a cousin of frontman Sadam, and guided their evolution and produced and co-wrote several songs on this album), their poetry and flow has a more integrally urban base than the ancestral tamashek poetry and traditional rhythms of their elders, Tinawiren.

Instead they offer something much more fresh and intricate; there is a lot of sensitivity and space in these jams, a lot of room for your mind to ponder and drift. This intimacy of Imarhan's sound is no coincidence. In the language of the Kel Tamashek people 'Imarhan' means 'the ones I care about' - Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane aka Sadam, Tahar Khaldi, Hicham Bouhasse, Haiballah Akhamouk and Abdelkader Ourzig all grew up near each other in Tamanrasset, Southern Algeria, in a Tuareg community of Northern Malian descent. The giant divide between their spiritual home and physical home is heard in their tracks: the funkier groove of Western Africa, the emptier, subtle tones of Saharan Traditional folk music and the fire and romance of Algerian Rai music. No other Tuareg release to date has had such a variance of rhythms, tempo and feeling. 

Imarhan's record is a heads-up to anyone who thought Tuareg music as just one thing: it's an invitation to closer listening and also an album that will stay fresh for a long time and influence those from the Sahara and beyond.

Music GB

Buy Imarhan - Imarhan (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.