Mdou Moctar joins host Stephen Kallao

Nigerien singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mdou Moctar is known for his electrified Tuareg guitar playing, but his latest album sees the band unplug. On the World Cafe, Moctar and bassist/producer Mickey Coulton talk about why Moctar wanted to make an acoustic album and how being stranded in the U.S. during a military coup in his home country played a part in making it happen.

Listen to the session here.

Today’s Playlist
The War on Drugs “I Don’t Wanna Wait” Live Drugs Again
Mdou Moctar “Takoba” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
Mdou Moctar “Imouhar” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
Mdou Moctar “Funeral for Justice” Funeral for Justice
Mdou Moctar “Modern Slaves” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
Songhoy Blues “Sekou Oumarou” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
Coldplay “Trouble” Parachutes
Maggie Rogers “Don’t Forget Me” Don’t Forget Me
Palmyra “Arizona” Restless
Ibeyi “River” Recorded Live at the World Cafe)
Jason Isbell “Bury Me” Foxes in the Snow
Joan Armatrading “Love & Affection” Joan Armatrading

Hour Two
Raul Malo “Every Little Thing About You” Today
Counting Crows “Spaceman in Tulsa” (single)
Oasis “Rock N Roll Star” Definitely Maybe
Margaret Glaspy “Act Natural” Echo The Diamond
R.E.M “Me In Honey” Out of Time
Marissa Nadler “In Your Lair, Bear” Marissa Nadler
Patty Griffin “Rain” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
James Blake “Limit To Your Love” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
Japanese Breakfast “Mega Circuit” For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women)
Wilco “Random Name Generator” Star Wars
Margaret Glaspy “Memory Street” Recorded Live at the World Cafe
Jensen McRae “Praying for Your Downfall” I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!
Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues” Helplessness Blues
Genesis Owusu “Get Inspired” (single)
The Pretenders “Kid” Pretenders