Matadjem Yinmixan

Tinariwen, 2007, from Aman Iman. Solo by Tinariwen.

A slow, heavy groove from Aman Iman, with bluesy guitar phrases answering the vocal.

Matadjem Yinmixan is a slow, heavy groove from Aman Iman, with bluesy guitar phrases answering the vocal line. The tempo gives the guitar room to breathe, and the phrases are weighty and deliberate, leaning into bends that recall American blues. The song shows how closely Tinariwen's music can sit alongside the blues without losing its own identity. Its slow build and patient phrasing make it one of the album's most hypnotic moments. Listen for the guitar responses after each vocal line, where a single bent note can carry as much meaning as a full phrase.

Matadjem Yinmixan by Tinariwen is featured in our Desert Blues (#21) list. The solo is played by Tinariwen and the song was released in 2007.

In our lists

• The Greatest Desert Blues Guitar Songs — #21
• The Best Tinariwen Guitar Solos — #3

Sources