Bomb! 200 copies. Multi-instrumentalist and composer J.H. Burch brings new intensity and focus to a neglected ethnographic and folklore reality: the rural Amazigh poets of Morocco’s Ait Bouguemez valley. Driven by a vision of genuine cultural exchange, Burch was drawn to the vocal repertoire of the all-female Troupe Asnimer, who for decades have served as some of the region’s most vital custodians of Amazigh oral art forms. The women of Asnimer perform in chorus, reciting songs penned by countless anonymous authors-some dating back centuries-transforming their tradition into a living, collective work that is as fluid as it is enduring. Each tribal form has its own context and function: Tamawayt, for example, are poems of travel and lamentation; Timnadin reflect the rhythms of daily labor; others are sung as part of Sufi rites.

With roots spanning Asia and the Pacific, J.H. Burch draws on his deep knowledge of diverse sound traditions and a wide-ranging instrumental palette-including baglama, santur, tanpura, kamanche, organ, deyurey, electronics, and percussion. In this collaboration, he becomes a conduit for Asnimer’s artistry, framing their voices without distorting the ancestral and rural character at the heart of their music. On the contrary, the songs of the Amazigh tribes of the Haut-Atlas are enriched by Burch’s Afro-Asiatic spiritual arrangements, which bring a meditative sensitivity to the project.

This unique release, limited to just 200 copies, stands as a vibrant testament to the power of cross-cultural dialogue and the enduring spirit of Amazigh oral tradition.