Zayna Jumma

Group Doueh released a handful of albums via Sublime Frequencies and gained a bit of a European following from their crossover between traditional North African sounds and modern African rock. On Zayna Jumma, they unleashed more of the rock end of the spectrum, utilizing their fuzzy, amp-overloading, thumping electric instruments all over otherwise simple call-and-response numbers. While the clapping percussion common to North African music (and perhaps even some qaraqeb) is present, drum kits join in. While tinidit lutes lay down a core sound for a few tracks, the electric guitar takes up center stage for the majority of the proceedings. The music reels back and forth between more or less traditional formats, but uses the same core principles regardless of the song: repetitive musical motives from the trance music traditions, call-and-response vocals, and touches of West African string playing (like koras, but adapted by culture). Layered over the top are organ riffs and accompaniments, deeper drum fills from time to time, and a healthy dose of psychedelia in the guitar lines. It's an excellent introduction to the modern Western Saharan sound, and also a fine addition for existing fans of the group.