This exciting new release embodies the label known as "Tribal House" in the most literal sense imaginable, the "tribe" in this case being the Tuareg of Niger and Mali. It brings together the talents of the late, legendary Tuareg guitarist Abdallah Oumbadougou and the highly-respected French / Moroccan DJ Lenny Air. These seven minutes of pure global dancefloor pressure carry within them centuries of cultural traditions, geo-political strife, musical innovation and the unbelievable story of a musician born into a rich culture but whose life was continually beset by extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Musicians often speak of their difficulties surviving but Abdallah's fight for survival was on another level entirely. His saga took him from Niger to Libya to Algeria and back again, facing wars, massacres, border face-offs and the occasional need to defend his people with an AK-47, all while still playing guitar and writing songs!

One of those songs was "Tapsikt," the classic we present here in remixed form as "Tabsikt," reworked for maximum dance impact by Lenny Air, dj and producer for over twenty years and co-founder of the first French-Moroccan electronic music label. Its basic groove brings to mind (and to the feet) rhythmic traditions of both Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa, wedding increasingly intense different elements of tribal traditions and instrumentation from different spots on the African continent to a steady four-on-the-floor house groove. Lenny Air has worked his magic here with absolute respect for Abdallah's work and his story, while also giving it an extra global-dance kick. Instant classic!