Emmaar is the seventh album to be released by Malian Desert Blues band, Tinariwen. Tineriwen are Tuareg, descended from nomadic people who have wandered the dunes for millennia. The desert is their home, and their hypnotic and electrifying guitar rock reflects complex realities of their homebase in North West Africa. Emmaar follows their Grammy Award winning album ‘Tassili’, which won for best Word Music album in 2011. The album was recorded in the Mojave Desert, USA, house in the region known for spaced-out rock ‘n’ roll and psychedelic cowboy folk. It's a richly layered listen solidified by atmospheric textures and gritty guitar-work. It features guest musicians such as Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, Matt Sweeney from Chavez, Nashville fiddler, Fats Kaplin, and poet Saul Williams. They came to New Zealand with the New Zealand Arts Festival in 2012 and have a strong fan base here.
