Album Review: Imarhan - Temet

While the tag "desert rock" gets thrown around a fair bit with Imarhan, it's worth remembering that their home, Tamanrasset in the Ahaggar mountains of Algeria, may be in the desert, but it's a city with a population of roughly 70,000. Maybe try to imagine Kalgoorlie with twice the population and perhaps just a tad more culture.

As Tamanrasset hosts temperatures of up to 47 degrees, the band, not surprisingly, tends to have a hot, parched sound, but also tough, bustling rhythms. These are best exemplified in the track Ehad Wa Dagh, a fine showpiece, where some insistent-yet-effortlessly smooth, snake-hip grooves lead to an entrancing guitar duel. Azzaman is another highlight that touches the heart with some choir-like harmonies and climaxes with a brain melting guitar solo. The mood is sometimes a touch more sombre than on their debut and the album eases down toward the end, culminating in the campfire reconciliation blues of Ma S-Abok. 

Although this should appeal to fans of other north African bands like Tinariwen, no one need be intimidated by labels like "desert rock" as Imarhan make hook-heavy music that should appeal to all corners.