Tartit
Crammed Discs Tartit : Abacabok (MAL,2006)****
With the releases of Tinarwen and Desert Planet one could almost forget how the new Touareg music locally sounds without any interference or dominating preferences (Tinarwen performs a exploited specification of bluesy electric guitar and Desert Planet is a mixture with interfering intermissions from outside).
Tartit is grounded as a contemporary communal folk style, using whatever arrangements they feel that fits with the songs, from traditional instruments to electric guitars. This approach sounds pure, and is conscious on what gives the best musical effect. Whatever instrument is used, it seems that it can’t be a better choice. When for instance on “Houmeissa” or also on “Tadsaq” electric guitars and bass and percussion are used this isn’t used to sound weird, but is exactly what it needs at this moment. Beautiful also is “Al Afete”, a prayer for peace on flute solo and some vocals. There’s one dance, some songs about things that matter, of which a few are, slightly hypnotic, more monotone a communal singing-in-group-together affair with some repetition.
Songs are led by men or a woman, but are accompanied in chorus by women’s handclaps and chorus singing and lilling.
On “Assinaina” the lead voice sound electrified.
Very hypnotic is “Tihou Beyatene” with vibrant harmonics of vocal arrangements with clapping and percussion it seems to imitate some snake drive energy, in a rather shamanic way.
A successful release that hangs well together and shows many different sounds compared to other Touareg/Tamashek related albums I have heard before.
