Chismiten

Mdou Moctar, 2021, from Afrique Victime. Solo by Mdou Moctar.

A driving groove that lets Moctar's rapid, hammered-on lead lines run free.

Chismiten is built on a driving, relentless groove, and Mdou Moctar uses it as a launch pad. His lead lines are fast and fluid, full of rapid hammer-ons and pull-offs that ripple over the rhythm like water over stones. He plays with a rock band's energy but keeps the melodic shapes and rhythmic feel of Tuareg guitar, so the result sounds both familiar and new. The track captures why Moctar has drawn so many rock listeners to desert blues. Listen for the long runs where his left hand does most of the work, the notes blurring into a single shimmering ribbon before he snaps back to the main riff.

Chismiten by Mdou Moctar is featured in our Desert Blues (#4) list. The solo is played by Mdou Moctar and the song was released in 2021.

In our lists

• Beyond the Canon — #31
• The Greatest Desert Blues Guitar Songs — #4
• The Best Mdou Moctar Guitar Solos — #2

Sources