oh what a glorious surprise seeing this one on release
a follow-up to the most wonderful tel aviv session from 2012
that particular album well loved well played well recommended
the 2 musicians well respected individually but together - so good
idan raichel is from israel - master pianist, composer, producer, performer
first exposed to him with the various albums recorded as the idan raichel project
signed to the eclectic six degrees label - i.e. - stunningly produced new music
an enticing combination of eastern vibe and western production techniques
generally electronica used sparingly but effectively for some rich sounds
mr raichel one of the most loyal and successful artists for six degrees
vieux farka toure - son of the late, great ali farka toure - so mali born
he also signed originally to six degrees hence the common ground
has put out several accomplished albums mostly in electric form
big reviews for the one from this year - mon pays - tis beautiful
inspired by and addressing the sad state of his country at this time
glowing reviews significantly now not making mention of his late dad
or in the terms of - has stepped out of his shadow and found his own sound
had the great pleasure of seeing him at womadelaide 2 years ago - highlight
a baking hot afternoon sun - us few true believers front of stage grooving away
he on electric guitar and 2 whitey boys on drums and bass - totally unforgettable
going back though - in 2011 vieux had a chance encounter at a german airport
bumped into idan raichel - both huge fans of each other they then discovered
result - into a studio in israel and the stunning tel aviv sessions album made
i thought that was going to be a one-off but now we have the paris sessions
having repeat played this album i easily rate it one of the best of this year
the melding of toure's rich african grooves and raichel's delicate piano...
is as close to perfection as one could imagine - a free-spirited exploration...
of the meditative power that can emerge from improvised music (relix)
that from the promo sticker and for me accurately describing the album
it starts and ends with their classic melodic-piano-meets-guitar sound
such a natural sound that they themselves must recognise as unique
the combination of middle east piano and african guitar at the base
then on every track fleshed out with some other compatible sound
on the first track a trumpet works it's way very easily into the mix
on other tracks there's the sound of a ngoni lute or a fender rhodes
vocals seem mainly left to vieux but some harmonies heard with idan
one track features seckouba diabate that harks to an aboriginal sound
at times it has a real jazz feel to it - the necks and even ecm referenced
some tunes pushing into a blues feel - some real melancholia vocals too
but to counter that the band also let's fly on at least one up tempo number
which all adds up to an album of many sounds, feels and combinations
yet it is so cohesive with producer idan raichel locking it all together
it sounds so natural with an obvious empathetic collaboration at work
the tel aviv sessions is beautiful - the paris sessions at least equals that
an album that will be (should be) well loved by people of many cultures
that being the other standout feature - it is not of any ethnicity or genre
i can only imagine the love in the room when it was recorded in paris
and that carrying so easily through to the actual feel of the music
clear respect and friendship in the result of the collaboration
an accidental meeting has lead to the creation of a new sound
no wonder they went back for more - and surely more to come
rave over - but what an infectious album - absolutely love it
