21st
Sainkho Namtchylak - “Stepmother City”
A hushed wind instrument blows through your ears, making way for a high moan from the lips of Sainkho Namtchylak. Upon listening to the opening track of Stepmother City, you feel as if you’ve come upon a steep mountain, covered in snow and blown by wind. This is fitting, since Natchylak comes from Tuva, a tiny republic of Russia, bordering Mongolia.
The song ends, and we are suddenly met by an unexpected yes smooth beat that could work in a hip dance club. Natchylak begins singing in her native language. Her throat singing is both lovely and strange at the same time.
The rest of the album features songs that combine traditional Asian instruments (flutes, violins, drums, chimes), jazz, and danceable Western beats, fitting together perfectly to form something that is both catchy and breathtaking at the same time. Fans of Shiina Ringo may be able to understand this perfect mix of pop and classic instrumentation.
It’s hard to put Namtchylak into a genre, so I won’t even try that.
When finished with the album, you will (assuming you have a working human soul) feel refreshed, like you’ve spent the hour in a Buddhist temple high in the mountains.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbAE8hGByNY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyoIYcH7oaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXI0HcC1VRk
- Mike (Dirt Piled Upon Dirt)
