We last brought you news of Mdou Moctar back in October when he shared “Chismiten” and announced his singing to Matador. It’s been a while in coming, but today he has revealed plans for his new album: it’s called Afrique Victime and comes out on May 21.
Along with the news he has shared a new song called “Tala Tannam”, saying: “Tala Tannam means your tears. It is another love song of which I’m very fond.”
Veering away from the volume that has characterised most of his work to date, the Tuareg songwriter’s new one is a simply gorgeous unplugged song, featuring a plethora of plucked strings and pattering percussion. Atop this, gang vocals combine and together flutter upwards, like embers twirling above a brightly burning fire. Most of us will not understand the words of “Tala Tannam”, but the passion and love is plainly evident in the way this beauty has been so lovingly composed and performed. If you do want to invest yourself in the words – and the song is so lovely that that’s completely understandable – they have been handily translated and can be read in the information on the video for “Tala Tannam”.
Watch the video for “Tala Tannam”, directed by Cem Misirlioglu, below, or listen on streaming platforms.
Mdou Moctar’s new album Afrique Victime comes out on May 21 via Matador. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp.
