Mdou Moctar released one of the best albums of 2024 with Funeral for Justice, a blisteringly swirling cumulation of all their righteously loud Tuareg guitar-rocking talents. Now, the outfit follows up that offering with this companion piece, Tears of Injustice, an acoustic re-recording of the original album.
While the resulting album isn’t as loud as the original, that isn’t to say it is soft. The anger and exhaustion felt in Moctar’s songs, even for listeners unfamiliar with his homeland’s struggle, still reverberate through hand drums, acoustic strings, and an extremely low end. Group members Mdou Moctar, Ahmoudou Madassane, and Souleymane Ibrahim were unable to return home to their families after a tour because of political upheaval and closed borders, so they decided to record this companion piece in Brooklyn with bassist, producer and lone American member Mikey Coltun and engineer Seth Manchester (METZ, Battles).
The opening track is stretched to nearly double its original length as “Funeral for Justice (Injustice Version)” uses hand drums, hand claps, and acoustic playing to draw the listener in. Acoustic strums, circular picking, fretboard runs, and slapping percussion move this version instead of the revved-up screaming guitar licks and pounding drums of the original. “Imouhar (Injustice Version)” also stretches beyond the original run time as the bass and hand drums lead the way for chanting vocals and ominous guitar riffs. Moctar can’t resist adding some echoing electric guitar to close out the long number.
While Moctar’s riffs and political protests propel the band, Coltun’s bass acts like an anchor/focal point on this release. The grooving “Takoba (Injustice Version)” pushes on via the heavy low end. After a cool guitar introduction, the deep bass dominates “Imajighen (Injustice Version).” That hefty groove continues for “Oh France (Injustice Version)” with added call-and-response vocals.
“Sousome Tamacheq (Injustice Version),” which was such a highlight on the original, loses its rocking power, easing into a more languid flow with laid-back playing/vocals and a few tempo shifts, however closer “Modern Slaves (Injustice Version)” is trimmed down and fully flourishes with some of the best playing from Moctar on the album. This isn’t the band’s first swim in these sonic waters. Mdou Moctar displayed their acoustic talents on 2021’s Afrique Victime, which was split between ripping full-band rockers and softer acoustic-based tunes. Talented in either form, fans now have multiple options to hear Moctar’s protest songs as both the original Funeral for Justice and this reimagining Tears of Injustice deliver their message around the globe.
