‘Niger EP Vol. 1’ features recordings captured in Mdou Moctar’s native country, including previously unreleased 13-minute drum machine and electric guitar epic, ‘Imouhar’, four live versions of songs from across Moctar’s albums ‘Afrique Victime’, ‘Afelan’ and ‘Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai’ (translating to ‘Rain the Color of Blue with A Little Red In It’, the soundtrack to Moctar’s Tuareg-language film remake of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’), as well as a drum machine version of ‘Afrique Victime’ opening track ‘Chismiten’.

Producer and bass player Mikey Coltun says: “In 2021, we started the Mdou Moctar mixtape series. These releases compiled field recordings, cellphone voice memos, interview clips, conversations captured in the tour van, and blown-out board recordings from shows all over the world. As a continuation of those mixtapes, we present the ‘Niger EP’s, which examine the roots of the Mdou Moctar band.

“Early Mdou recordings were contained on cassettes, though the humble tape was soon replaced by the quick and easy facility of cellphone technology. Long bus rides are common in West Africa. On one of these rides, you might be seated next to a stranger and ask, ‘What are you listening to?’ Then a song exchange would begin over Bluetooth. This is a very real way artists found their music distributed far from home. In that vein, the ‘Niger EP’ series features solely recordings taped in Mdou Moctar’s home country of Niger. Volume 1 begin the series with a mix of recordings from 2017-2020, documenting the band at weddings, picnics, rehearsals, and even impromptu house concerts. A must have for any Mdou Moctar fan!

“[Volume 2’s] ‘Ibitlan’ is a love song,” continues Coltun. “Mdou sings about his love for a woman, comparing her to a beautiful valley with a stream running through it, how her skin is a yellow flower and her smile is like lightning. This particular recording was done in Agadez in 2017 at a wedding. Mdou and I had played three weddings a day for about a month and a half on that trip. It was like bootcamp. I loved it. ‘Ibitlan’ is one of Mdou’s oldest songs and is covered by pretty much every Tuareg guitarist. We’ve played versions of this song lasting over 20 minutes. It’s definitely one of my favourites to play!”

An innovative alchemy of Tuareg folk, blues and rock, electric guitar pyrotechnics, field recordings and electronics with poetic call-to-arms lyrics about the plight of his homeland of Niger, Moctar’s 2021 album, ‘Afrique Victime’, swept End Of Year lists, achieving high placements in The Economist, The Guardian, The New York Times, Uncut, MOJO, Pitchfork, The New Yorker, NPR, Rolling Stone, Dazed & Confused, DJ, Crack and many others.

‘Niger EP Vol. 1’ is pressed on Transparent Yellow vinyl. ‘Niger EP Vol. 2’ is available on Transparent Green vinyl.