Kaani by Tal National

Straight from Niamey, Niger, Tal National are set to move from hometown hero status in their native landlocked, desert-dominated West African country to the global stage, thanks to their recent signing to FatCat.

Revered regionally for their mix of Saharan and West African sounds and for their intense guitar work and upbeat vibe, Tal National make striking music, despite a constant dearth of available instruments and a complete lack of local studios. Their sound combines gritty electric sounds and layered, intriguing percussion including the talking drum. Tal National’s songs find a looping, trance-inducing quality (think desert blues), delivered with a true joy and vitality (think highlife or mbalax), and is comprised of a combination of original compositions and new arrangements of old West African folk songs.