With Assikel, the iconic Saharan rock band Tamikrest delivers their sixth studio album - a work of striking intimacy, rawness and atmospheric depth. Recorded live to analogue tape, the album captures the band’s natural interplay, hypnotic energy and the emotional urgency that has defined their sound for nearly two decades. For Tamikrest, whose music has long illuminated the culture, struggles and resilience of the Kel Tamasheq people, Assikel (‘voyage’, ‘journey’) marks a deliberate shift toward an even more organic and immediate approach. The songs navigate themes of exile, longing, resistance and community, shaped by the harsh political realities at home and the unbroken spirit of a people in motion. Musically, the album weaves electric and acoustic guitars, floating lap steel, deep bass, calabash, hand percussion and full drum kit into a vivid sonic landscape. Guest appearances-most notably Ibrahim Ag Alhabib (Tinariwen)-add depth and cultural resonance. In 2026, Tamikrest sound more focused, more vital and more emotionally present than ever. Assikel is a profound statement: timeless, defiant and deeply human. Music for this moment. Music that stays with you.

1. Adagh Oyantid
2. Inizdjam
3. Iman Derhan Nasn
4. Aiytma
5. Imanin
6. Eillal (ft. Ibrahim Ag Alhabib)
7. Tapsakin
8. Adounia