Like A Bird Or Spirit, Not A Face

Sainkho Namtchylak’s music combines elements of Western experimental and jazz music with traditional Tuvan folk and throat singing, Central Asian overtone singing that turns a human voice into something between a whistle, a vacuum cleaner, and a didgeridoo. Her singing can flip and flop between Kate Bush, Iggy Pop, and the mating call of some obscure animal, and contains plenty of improvization in the vein of Yoko Ono and Bjork, from jazz-influenced scatting to growly throat-vocalizations. This album is made in collaboration with members of Tinariwen, from northern Mali, and the nomadic desert vibe is evident throughout. Weird, shamanistic, experimental stuff – don’t dismiss it as another “world” album.

Most songs are in either Tuvan or Russian (I personally can't hear the difference), although some are in English.

RIYL: Tinariwen, Yoko Ono, Bjork, Don Cherry, Kongar-Ol Ondar, Huun-Huur Tu
FCC CLEAN!s
1. **(4:28) haunting shamanic campfire tune, features steady percussion, clapping, and acoustic guitar, first male chanting then Sainkho, her vocalizations get kinda weird
2. ****(6:42) dark, ambient, almost Eno-esque instrumentation drifts in and out. She starts singing in an echoey voice and a little bizarre, playful vocal improv.
3. ** (5:58) her weird-ass voice over mid-tempo, uncomfortable baseline. Whooshy, creaky, springy sounds in background.
4. **(3:08) faster baseline, clanking bells, freaky breathey shivery vocals, pretty avante garde stuff.
5.*(3:27) weird shit - tribal drumming picks up as song progresses, wordless vocal improv ranges from gravelly lows to nails-on-a-chalkboard highs
6. ***(6:37) chill acoustic guitar riff, her strange voice is more conventional, jazz-influenced, occasionally switches into full throat singing.
7. *(3:44) another chill acoustic beat, spoken word and jazzy improv. English lyrics.
8.**(2:06) very ethnic/traditional, drumbeats and bells, throat singing galore, ends with her straight growling. Tuvan lyrics.
9.***(7:37) the most accessible track. Pretty, relaxing, acoustic music for a sunrise. She starts out singing sweetly in English then switches out. No weird growls or yelps!
10. ****(2:30) upbeat Western guitar and bass riff with traditional drum, chanting, and throat singing. a pleasant rock song, with plenty of weird vocalizations.