Episode 79: Deep in the Desert 1

Today the show is embarking on a 2-week journey into one of my favorite regular themes here at Tropicology. This week and next I will be playing psychedelic desert blues, music from Mali and neighboring countries, mostly from the 1970s, with a few modern tracks working in rootsy styles. There is no internationally used name for the genre of music I’m playing today, although there should be... “desert blues” is the term most recognized in our country, although in our minds that term trends toward the acoustic sounds of acts like Ali Farka Toure. Most of the tracks I’m playing this week and next have a more modern electric sound, often including organ, horn lines, and long guitar solos. Like acoustic desert blues, this music traces its pedigree to the rich tradition of professional griot musicians in the ancient Malian Empire. Today popular musicians continue to play electric versions of this musical tradition, although the sound now has a much more fuzzed out rock vibe, like Tinariwen or Mdou Moctar. But in the 70s the plugged in sound drew upon psychedelic rock sounds that were popular in that era, including Santana, Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. This music is most closely identified with Mali, but you will also hear many tracks today from neighboring Guinea and Burkina Faso, plus a pair from Benin.