TAKAAT
Is Noise, Vol. 1
Purplish Records [2025]
“No polish, no rules—just pure, primal noise from the Sahel to the States.”
Album Overview: TAKAAT (pronounced tuh-cot), meaning “noise” in the Tuareg language Tamashek, was born during downtime on tour with Mdou Moctar. Guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane, bassist/producer Mikey Coltun, and drummer Souleymane Ibrahim started jamming during soundchecks, letting loose with loud, raw ideas that didn’t fit into their usual sets. Eventually, those experiments evolved into something more serious. What emerged is Is Noise, Vol. 1—a 19-minute, four-track EP that feels more like a field recording than a polished studio release.
Recorded live to ½” tape on a cold day in Washington, D.C., these performances are captured as they happened—no overdubs, no shine, just instinct and volume. It’s music powered by immediacy and connection, a document of three musicians fully locked in. Texture and tension drive the flow, with every crackle and clash adding to the electricity.
Musical Style: TAKAAT lands somewhere between the hypnotic pulse of Sahelian guitar music and the blown-out roar of underground punk. Their sound is all about repetition and release—tight, looping riffs meet heavy basslines and kinetic drumming. It’s West African street music through a fuzz pedal, loud and alive, made for basements, backyards, and anywhere the walls can handle it.
Evolution of Sound: This isn’t a left turn so much as a collision. Each member brings their own deep musical roots—Tuareg tradition, punk chaos, and noise rock texture—and TAKAAT lets those instincts run wild. There’s no roadmap here. The songs feel like they’re hanging by a thread, ready to spiral out or combust at any moment, and that unpredictability is part of the thrill.
Artists with Similar Fire: If you’ve got a thing for the dense tension of Unwound, the wiry clatter of The Ex, the experimental bursts of Liquid Liquid or Sonic Youth’s detuned beauty, you’ll feel like you have found gold here. Fans of Mdou Moctar or Tinariwen will also appreciate the guitar patterns that nod to the desert blues tradition, while listeners into Karkhana’s freeform energy or punk’s global DIY spirit will catch the vibe instantly.
Pivotal Tracks: Closer “Ishumar” channels the band’s West African DNA with a looping rhythm that slowly pulls you under. “Elwan” is pure chaos—jagged riffs, relentless drums, a slow-motion explosion that never lets up. And don’t skip opener “Amidinin.” It’s your first step into TAKAAT’s world, and it hits with a rough, unexpected force that sets the tone right away. Across the board, the rawness of the recording is essential—it’s the sound of a band refusing to smooth the edges.
Lyrical Strength: Vocals are used sparingly here, almost as another percussive layer. When voices do emerge, they’re more like chants or textures than traditional lyrics. The focus stays on rhythm and energy over narrative. You won’t be reading along with a lyric sheet—but you’ll feel every moment.
Final Groove: Is Noise, Vol. 1 is a loud, immediate burst of creative energy—short, sharp, and totally unfiltered. It captures a band in motion, building something new out of shared instincts and mutual trust. While it’s not polished or neatly packaged, that’s exactly what makes it work. There’s power in its rawness, and beauty in its imperfections. If this is just the first volume, the future noise of TAKAAT is worth turning up for.
TAKAAT LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Purplish Records
- TAKAAT: Is Noise, Vol. 1 [Album Review] - May 27, 2025
- Psychic Pigs: Psychic Pigs [Album Review] - May 23, 2025
- Peter Doherty: Felt Better Alive [Album Review] - May 22, 2025