Toumast
Real World Rec. Toumast : Ishumar (W-SA,2007)****'
Also several listens, and second checks on the other releases I have confirm that this first album by this band surely remains one of the best and most rewarding. First of all, the tracks have been worked upon much thoroughly compared to most Touareg releases, despite the fact that live energy, improvised talent and life experiences give certain tracks from make some other releases something unique. Not only the arrangements, the songs, also a production like this one still gives this album something one step more advanced and rewarding on the long run and for repeated listen.
Let's take already the first track, "The countries that are not mine/Ikale Walegh". The electrified lead guitar has "trembling" effect, a bit like Hendrix developed from and could do somewhat base upon the blues, this at the same time gives the tuning a more ethnic sound, an attractive technique especially used on this track especially. Also, the handclap rhythms everywhere are rearranged to a beautiful complexity in sounds and rhythm, an attractive reconsideration that still is based upon the original traditions. The lead voice is convincing, and the second female vocals are a great finishing touch, beside well fitting electric bass and a few drum accents on top of the hand percussive swings. Also the second track, "That Girl/Tallyatidagh" has beautiful female and subtle bass voice background arrangements. The repetition is alternated with good enough small details that change the whole time, a perfect balance between hypnotic swing and satisfying musical variation. One more surprise is a small introductory scream before a small soprano sax arrangement/improvisation into the song. Here and there, in different songs we hear the female lillilllli shouts too. The fourth song, "Oh my God/My soul/Ammilana" I heard already from the Ishumar compilation. Also this one was a very different one, with more female lead voice contribution as usual, a beautiful high toned voice. Extra vocal arrangements are added, responding with tonal accents (both female and deeper toned male) and repetitive singing. A very special song. The fifth song, "The Camel/Ezeref" is a slow blues guitar song, the guitar somewhat playing rhythmically and melodically along with the song melody, with bluesy improvisation around it. Also the singing, with its vocal pronunciations sounds a bit like poetry this time. I can say a lot more about the songs, but let me only add a few of the details to discover. The electric guitars on "Dounia/Life" sounds a bit more emotional, more improvised in its electric and slightly bluesy character too."For Twelve Moons" sounds more happy/celebrative in its a bit more up tempo rhythm. Also here are a few small rhythmical accents added in the production. "Hey! My Brothers!/Kik Ayittma", also with up tempo accents, has interesting guitar arrangements, including a few reverb accents. The last track is slower, has a small string accents arrangement added in the intro, and another string arrangement accent, with bass note and vocal, a beautiful contrast in ideas which makes the track more wonderful to listen to.
The band has made already a second album, but this French label went bankrupt so I am not sure if it will be able to trace another album yet.
