Suisa              Taffetas (CH/GN,2001)****'

I had already noticed in the release from Thee, Stranded Horse (here) how beautiful the African kora sounded in combination with acoustic guitar. The kora sounds a bit harp-like, has aspects from the Celtic harp as if touching the strings inside as well (the Celtic Harp with 5 or 7 strings is said to be related to 5 or 7 inner strings to touch), the same sensitivity I sense here too. But the instrument is also played with typical African ideas. To some degree this is typical for the instrument interpretation of this African touch sounds as if the theme and idea is compensated or better an uplifted version of the Afro-hypnotic rhythmic trance music but also dance music, here it becomes something from a much higher sensitive and more meditative musical level. Fast improvised fingerpickings are combined with pattern based repetitions of rhythmic melodies. But also jazz-like guitar leads or comes in spontaneously, or African-guitar ideas wind perfectly, Indian-flavoured sit-guitar (from his own fabrication) and so on, played always in a perfect vivid combination. And some wordless singing (slightly Indian flavoured) spontaneously comes forward here too, like a blossoming birth coming forward, fading in as if imagined from the music itself. Here and there we hear a subtle additional instrument, always melted with the rest, like I almost forgot to mention the soft touch of upright bass. Brilliant eternal music : I can keep on listening to this album again and again and again. Ad finitum.

Audio : http://www.rhapsody.com/taffetas/taffetas

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/taffetas

Homepage : http://www.taffetas.ch/

Other review : http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/...next release->

AFRICAN FUSIONS, CROSSOVERS AND NEW ORIGINAL MUSIC

PAGE 9 :

review page West-Africa:

Guinea-Bissau

Taffetas

Suisa Taffetas : Caméléon(CH/GN/BF,2006)****

On the same fundament as the previous release now are added two African singers, Fatoumata Dembélé and Nana Cissokho, both from Burkina Faso (male lead singer, backing female singing, sometimes as a second lead voice) which makes the music a bit different, with a more direct from life injected energy. Also large instrumental parts (bass.guitar/kora) can still be heard. Another enjoyable release with a charming warmth, and a contemporary flavour of certain traditions.

Audio : http://www.rhapsody.com/taffetas/cameleon

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/taffetas & http://cdbaby.com/cd/taffetas

Homepage : http://www.taffetas.ch/

Info : http://www.busaramusic.org/database/...

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