Ilana (The Creator) marked a decisive shift for Mdou Moctar, capturing the Nigerien guitarist in full flight with a live rock band for the first time. Recorded after years of relentless touring, the album distils the quartet’s heavy, hypnotic approach: Tuareg desert blues pushed through blown-out amps, streaked with psychedelic intensity and raw momentum. The record laid the groundwork for the explosive direction later realised on Afrique Victime and Funeral For Justice, but Ilana stands firmly on its own. Its songs remain core fixtures of the band’s live sets, built for volume, velocity and physical impact. Widely praised on release, the album was hailed as “a streaking, white-hot comet” by Pitchfork and described by NPR as “the most insane psychedelic guitar album of the 21st century,” cementing its status as a pivotal moment in Mdou Moctar’s catalogue. Available on vinyl.