Music from Saharan cellphones is a compilation of music collected from memory cards of cellular phones in the Saharan desert.
In much of West Africa, cellphones are used as all-purpose multimedia devices. In lieu of personal computers and high-speed internet, the knockoff cellphones house portable music collections, playback songs on tinny built-in speakers, and swap files in a very literal peer to peer Bluetooth wireless transfer.
The songs chosen for the compilation were some of the highlights -- music that is immensely popular on the unofficial mp3/cellphone network from Abidjan to Bamako to Algiers, but have limited or no commercial release. They're also songs that tend towards this new world of self-production -- Fruity Loops, home studios, synthesizers, and Autotune.
Etran de L’Aïr welcomes you to Agadez, the capital city of Saharan rock. Stars of the local wedding circuit, Etran's new album showcases the band's hypnotic solos and sun schlazed melodies. Sahel Sounds Compilations
Les Filles de Illighadad at the height of their powers, creating a sound that transcends all known genres. This is a heavy and meditative set of live music from one of the world's most exciting bands. Sahel Sounds Compilations
Traditional village music transformed into fiery and frenetic underground Hip Hop. Mamaki Boys' Patriote takes back the tools of globalization, re-purposing them in the fight for cultural identity. Sahel Sounds Compilations
Another fantastic release from the mighty Sahel Sounds label, this soundtrack turns desert blues into exploratory ambient soundscapes. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 3, 2018