|
On its second album, the Malian group Terakaft (“The Caravan” in Tamashek), enjoy the tutelage and experience of producer Jean-Paul Romann, of the popular French supergroup Lo’Jo. Great production skills notwithstanding, the studio album captures the earthy chants, ululations and call-response vocals so preeminent in North African music. In spite of using electronic guitars and bass, the album retains a decided organic feel, born of searing desert afternoons and cool, breeze-caressed evenings. “Soubhanallah” is an almost bluesy shuffle, at times sounding like a New Orleans funeral dirge. “Djer Aman” shows off the quintet’s vibrancy, with its quick-footed, double-time rhythm. The songs are punctuated by drone-like bass lines, imaginative guitar playing and plaintive chanting. Missing is the use of any percussion instruments a curious orchestration omission, especially given the region’s vibrant rhythms and instrumentation including qarqabas, dumbeq, frame drums, riqs and more. Still, the strong male vocals and three well-played guitars give it plenty of substance.
|
RSS Feeds
