This, surely, will be the most unlikely fusion album of the year, mixing influences from the steppe with music from the Sahara. Sainkho Namtchylak was born in Tuva, bordering Mongolia, and is the best-known female exponent of that eerie and compelling regional speciality, throat-singing, in which a performer creates both droning notes and harmonic resonances at the same time. To this she adds a seven-octave range and a quirky, experimental approach. For her latest project she is joined by two members of Mali’s desert blues exponents, Tinariwen, with Eyadou Ag Leche on guitar and bass, Said Ag Ayad on percussion, and producer Ian Brennan adding “loops”. The result is predictably curious. Namtchylak’s voice switches from harsh-edged wailing and growling passages to sections where she is playful or demonstrates a high, controlled and unexpectedly soulful approach. The slinky African guitar lines and rhythm provide the perfect balance.
