Adrian Phillips listens to Tchamantche, from Rokia Traore, winner of Best Artist in this year's Songline's awards and finds his life changing in the process......
I am ashamed to admit it but this is the first album I’ve listened to by a female African artist. Yes I know it’s not a good state of affairs, but my vast collection of music is male dominated – a situation that I am constantly trying to redress.
After listening to these gorgeous songs my efforts will be doubled. Beautiful is a much over and misused word when it comes to describing most things, but I am going to use it here.This CD IS a thing of aural beauty. Rokia Traore delivers a vocal performance of such intensity that you are compelled to listen. Don’t get me wrong the music is there, the grooves are subtle and the playing delicate, but it’s the voice that dominates.
the voice is a mix of brittle sometimes whispered expression and the instrumentation secondary
From the opener Dounia with its psychedelic 60’s feel, the simple guitar refrain of Dianfa, the French lyric of Zen (my heart melts at words sung in that language) and the desert blues of Aimer the voice is a mix of brittle sometimes whispered expression and the instrumentation secondary.
Some of the harmony and verbal interplay reminded me of Kate Bush at her most inspired and her version of the Billie Holliday classic The Man I Love is fantastic.
Bring on the girls - this musical chauvinist is hooked!!
