Matador

After capping off their last UK performance for 2022 at Green Man Festival last weekend, Mdou Moctar has released the 'Niger EP Vol. 1' featuring recordings captured in Moctar’s native country, including the previously unreleased 13-minute drum machine and electric guitar epic "Imouhar," live versions of songs from across Moctar’s discography, and a rhythm-box-driven take on 'Afrique Victime ' opener "Chismiten."

Producer and bass player Mikey Coltun says: “In 2021, we started the Mdou Moctar mixtape series. These releases compiled field recordings, cell phone 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 cell phone 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!”