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From the heart of Tamanrasset, in southern Algeria, Imarhan transcend Tuareg tradition, fusing hypnotic synthesizers with desert blues. The result is a timeless work, deeply respectful of its roots yet vibrant at the same time, with a moving sense of modernity. Essam is the band's fourth album and was recorded with the same core line-up as always, but with a significant shift in sound and approach - breaking away from the already classic guitar-driven desert blues influenced by the legacy of Tinariwen - to venture into something more open, modern and experimental. For the first time, their longtime sound engineer, Maxime Kosinetz, takes on the role of producer. He travelled to Tamanrasset with Emile Papandreou (of the French duo UTO), a multi-instrumentalist who introduced electronic elements by sampling live instruments and reprocessing them in real time with a modular synthesizer, subtly transforming the band's sonic identity. The resulting album is steeped in the very rhythm of its surroundings. The sounds of friends clapping, voices echoing and a palpable sense of shared space culminate in a powerful statement of identity and artistic evolution.