Moussa Tchingou – Tamiditine EP Review

What does Moussa Tchingou sound like?

If Tuareg’s “desert rock” music took inspiration from Bollywood melodies.

The review of ‘Tamiditine EP’ from Moussa Tchingou

Nigerian guitar protege Moussa Tchingou was busy writing and releasing albums at 19 years old with his Tuareg style making him a prolific artist but much of it self distributed through MP3s and videos. ‘Tamiditine EP’ marks the first international release of Moussa’s work and it showcases a shift in his influences over the last decade.

Moussa Tchingou has found inspiration from Bollywood soundtracks. He transcribes the piano melodies across to guitar and this has seen him move towards lilting melodies and not just the heady gallops desert rock is known for. He also moves between the traditional Agadez virtuoso twang of Tuareg music to fuzz rock sounds too. This means the EP covers a variety of styles very quickly.

The title track is possibly the most overtly Bollywood-inspired. The nasal vocals linger and bend along with the guitar and the lo-fi drum programming feels stilted. There’s a distinct homemade bedroom rock production here that isn’t present on the other tracks and I wonder if that’s to evoke the often overblown Bollywood sound design. I’m not sure it showcases the EP at its best. Either way, the production cleans up for ‘Derhan’ which showcases Tchingou’s fingerwork superbly. The extended jams have poise and never outstay their welcome. The drum machine sounds more at home here along with some pacey call-and-response vocals too.

‘Tarha’ then meshes Bollywood vocal production (complete with some crazy vocal auto-tune effects) and desert rock for a superb hybrid of cultures and ideas. The track flows so easily as you move between styles – it is unlike anything I’ve heard before. The juxtaposition of harsh drums and tight guitar noodling makes the rhythmic guitar feel more emotive too. The closing track ‘Tchidit’ follows a similar vibe too but is less aggressive and more folksy. After several bombastic and angular songs, ending on a serpentine desert rock shuffle allows you to lose yourself to the heady guitar work and hypnotic rhythms. With all the Indian influences, the EP ends on a decidedly Nigerian note.

It took me a couple of listens to click with Moussa Tchingou’s work. That was largely because of the rigid drum programming that I felt got in the way the fluid blues of the guitar. Over time I’ve come to appreciate some of the harsh, mechanical percussion. It lulls you into a trance a bit like a washing machine does and I mean that as a compliment. When India meets Tuareg – Mossa Tchingou really shines. There isn’t anything else quite like this out there and whilst it may not be for everyone, it’s got a surefire fan in me.

Recommended track: Tarha

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