Conscious Music you have probably never heard of | #84 | Terakaft

Authentic & raw rock tunes from the Sahara desert, Terakaft sounds like nothing you have ever heard!

Unbelievably groovy and enticing, their tracks paint rich visions of remote desert landscapes that come alive with the yearning of revolution and hardship, the longing for peace and dialogue, and the human heart in front of a microphone; telling a story that feels fresh and utterly un-exploited to the Western ear.

"Terakaft" in the Tamasheq language means 'caravan' and after a track or two you will know they have found the perfect name for their band.

Hailing from Mali, Africa - lovingly labeled the "pioneers of desert blues" - they quite frankly sound like nothing else. Embedded in their charming and minimalist approach, their tracks are gripping and memorable - so much so that you will find yourself humming phrases stuck in your head for days on end, feeling like you were 3 years old trying to mimick an utterly foreign tongue.

It's quite the trip to suddenly immerse yourself in desert guitar music from Mali but boy is it worth it.

A real gem to those looking for new horizons of handmade music in their lives and new bands to listen to, Terakaft are a perfect symbol for the true wealth of humanity's natural diversity in expression. It reminds us again just how much is missing within modern music played on mainstream stations: the heart.

Far from technically perfect, the music has something much more important: charm and character! It is a phenomenon that has become all but extinct these days, where everything has been polished into utter numbness, loudness and blinding sparkle devoid of vitality.

Terakaft is the opposite.They will make you dance, will make you hold your breath and have you firget what you were talking about one second ago. It's that powerful.

So naturally due to their awareness raising, heartfelt music Terakaft deserves a place in this series! Both recent albums ("Kel Tamasheq" & "Aratan N Azawad") are incredible.

If you like guitars, rhythm, and a breath of fresh air in authenticity you have to check this out if only for a track or two.

Here are two of my favorites, each from one of the aforementioned albums. Let the tracks speak for themselves.

I hope you enjoy! Let me know if it stunned you as much as it stunned me when I first heard it. I still cannot get rid of these tracks and somehow the desert is now always with me in spirit wherever I go.