Imarhan’s Album ‘Essam’ Fuses Electronica with Tureg Poetry

Algerian quintet Imarhan - currently one of the most exciting bands coming out of North Africa - has released a new full-length album, Essam, on Berlin-based imprint City Slang.

Hailing from Tamanrasset in southern Algeria, Imarhan have been instrumental in bringing indigenous Tuareg music to the global stage, blending tradition with forward-thinking compositions that push the boundaries of desert blues. On Essam, the blues-rock-assouf ensemble deepens their experimentation, fusing ethereal electronica with ancestral poetry.

Produced by long-time collaborator Emile Papandreou of French electropop duo UTO, the ten-track album navigates political tensions and themes of belonging and displacement, all conveyed in their native dialect. The record features contributions from Sudanese singer Sulafa Elyas, Super Furry Animals’ frontman Gruff Rhys, and members of the trailblazing Tinariwen group.

The album opens with ‘Ahitmanin’, a stripped-back acoustic track layered with ambient synths, evoking a dreamlike atmosphere. ‘Tamatidin’ follows, a soulful, blues-infused cut that samples the late poet and Tinariwen co-founder Mohammed Ag Itlale, reflecting on Tamanrasset’s political instability while honouring its traditions and the pivotal role of women in its music history.

Other highlights include ‘Aboogi’, an evocative journey named after the band’s rehearsal space, contrasting with the spacey, muted club mood of ‘Azaman Amoutay’, which captures a sense of alienation. ‘Achinkad’ balances joy and sorrow in a folksy palette, while ‘Okcheur’ leans funkier, marrying flanged guitars and wonky bass to explore uncertainty and the feeling of being at a crossroads.

Marking their fourth album, Essam represents a bold shift in Imarhan’s sonic approach, departing from the rock, psychedelic tureg-driven sound they have been holding up throughout their catalogue. Instead, they pivot for a more modern iteration of desert blues, relying heavily on electronic elements, sampled live instruments and modular synthesisers - think The Blaze but purely indigenous, earthy and organic.