LP / CD / DL
8/10
Out Now
Review by the Unarmed Bandit.
When this crossed my desk, my instant feeling was
trepidation – I was not convinced I would like it as I have not been exposed to
any music of Moorish descent. How wrong could I be?
Noura Mint Seymali hails from Mauritania with a deep-rooted
heritage in music, being a descendant of Moorish griot and this definitely
shows in the songwriting. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of listening
before, the sound is a fantastic fusion of African, Asian and Western
influence. Each of the songs on the album has its own identity, at different
times showcasing the guitar playing of Noura’s husband, Jelche Ould Chigaly,
the bass of Ousmane Toure and the drums of Matthew Tinari. The full drum kit
opens up the traditional sounds to Western ears and the bass which at times
offers the percussive effect of a tabla – I suspect this is down to years of
mastering the instrument and developed intentionally – paves the way for a
series of overlaid guitar riffs that highlight the Afro-Asian influence. All of
these support the soaring vocals of Noura without ever clashing. There is no
doubt that the story she is telling is the focal point of the songs.
While each of the tracks merit a mention, Ghizlane really
stands out for me. It starts quite calmly with a gorgeous melody being held up
by a selection of riffs, building slowly with the addition of bass and drums
until it climaxes into a cacophony of glorious celebration.
At the end of the day, this has opened my ears to a style of
music I probably wouldn’t have searched out otherwise and that I will always be
grateful for. Next stop, an online search for the first full-length album,
Tzenni.
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