|
|
 |
CD Review
|
| Click Here to go back. |
Arizona Daily Star, CD Review >>
Throat-singing and rock classics mesh
By Qerald M. Gay
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
You wouldn't think the hardline guitar riffs and attitude that come with classic rock would mesh well with the serene sounds of traditional Tuvan throat-singing.
But Yat-Kha puts any doubt to rest on the group's latest World Village release, "Re-Covers," due out next Tuesday.
Led by throat singer Albert Kuvezin a Republic of Tuva native the trio embarks on powerful, yet bizarre rock tribute through some of the vocalist's favorites accompanied by guitars, thundering drums, zithers and, of course, some good old-fashioned, floor-vibrating throat action.
Popular titles include Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," Santana's "Black Magic Woman" and the Led Zeppelin classic "When the Levee Breaks."
"Oh, won't you come with me/and take my hand," moans Kuvezin, sounding almost like Jim Henson Muppet, to Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."
Along with the bevy of rich rock titles, Kuvezin throws in an interesting mix of other influential artists. The singer/performer slips into some reggae with jew's-harp, guitar and rhythmic percussion on the Bob Marley track, "Exodus," and puts his throat-singing centerstage with an cappella version of the Scottish melody "Wild Mountain Thyme."
The song was first recorded by Francis McPeake more than 40 years ago, but Kuvezin notes that it was his time performing with the shortly after being signed to Chieftains band member Paddy Maloney*s Wick-low label in the late that led him to include it on the album.
Kuvezin also pays tribute to his own part of the world Tuva is in extreme southern Siberia with songs like "Pes-nya Mergena," by Tuvan symphonic composer Alexei Baktrevich, written for the Tuvan documentary "People of Blue River."
And then there's "Pesnya Giraffe" an upbeat melody written by the late Russian actor/poet/singer Vladimir Vysotsky a traditional Russian folk song and apparent in fluence on Kuvezin's work.
"His (Vysotsky) songs are full of sarcasm and humor when they are about the defects of human society and full of love and fun when about his native land," the singer remarks in his liner notes.
He adds: "They (all of the album's tracks) are relative to what I've tried to do for a long time, since I began to mix Tuvan music and my singing with Western rock."
Contact reporter Gerald M. Gay at 573-4137 or ggay@azstarnet.com.
08/03/06
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
