Mdou Moctar announce new album Funeral for Justice

Nigerien rock group Mdou Moctar have shared details of their forthcoming album Funeral for Justice. Out on May 12 via Matador, the project is the sixth from the group, founded by the eponymous Tuareg rock guitarist.

Today’s news comes with the release of the new album’s title track. Moctar and company take their reliably raucous shredding into off-kilter territory on the new song; there’s a sense that the well-oiled machine is veering out of control in how every element darts in and out of the motorik-esque beat, almost like the scraggly melodies are jumping recklessly over fire.

That may have something to do with the urgency of the song’s lyrics, a plea from Moctar for African countries to rise up against their colonizers: “Retake control of your countries, rich in resources,” he sings. “Build them and quit sleeping.”

“This album is really different for me,” Moctar says in a press statement. “Now the problems of terrorist violence are more serious in Africa. When the U.S. and Europe came here, they said they’re going to help us, but what we see is really different. They never help us to find a solution.”

Watch the music video and stream “Funeral for Justice” below, followed by the album’s cover art and tracklist, as well as Mdou Moctar’s upcoming tour dates.

April 14 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music and Arts Festival
April 21 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music and Arts Festival
June 5 – Atlantic City, NJ – Anchor Rock Club
June 6 – Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey Bar at ABC
June 7 – Richmond, VA – Cheers Brown’s Island
June 8 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom
June 9 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
June 11 – Charleston, SC – Pour House
June 12 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn
June 13 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
June 14 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
June 15 – Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi
June 18 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
June 19 – Detroit, MI – Magic Bag
June 20 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
June 21 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall
June 22 – Greenfield, MA – Green River Music Festival
June 23 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
June 26 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
June 27 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
June 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
July 3 – London, UK – Electric Brixton
July 7 – Beuningen, NL – Down the Rabbit Hole
August 19 – Berlin, DE – Festaal Kreuzberg
August 20 – Leipzig, DE – UT Kreuzberg
August 21 – Munich, DE – Ampere
August 22 – Milan, IT – Magnolia Summer Stage
August 25 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
August 26 – Antwerp, BE – OLT Revierenhof
August 27 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
August 30 – Dorset, UK – End of the Road Festival
August 31 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Psych Fest
September 1 – Birmingham, UK – Moseley Folk Festival
September 2 – Glasgow, UK – Saint Luke’s
September 3 – Newcastle, UK – Boiler Shop
September 4 – Leeds, UK – The Brudenell Social Club