Very often #zot2017 equals beautiful, stunning records. Like in this case here.

Saz'iso? – At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me (The Joys and Sorrows of Southern Albanian Song) (Glitterbeat, October 13, 2017)

Clearly one of the most interesting albums released in 2017, and it would be a crime not to revisit it. The label, of course, is Glitterbeat (God bless it). It all started from an idea by the historic producer Joe Boyd (Pink Floyd and Nick Drake among others) and his collaborators Edit Pola and Andrea Goertler, with the blessing of a great like Ry Cooder. Saz'iso is a collective of virtuoso musicians and performers that I would define as essential (Adrianna Thanou, Donika Pecallari, and the Orthodox priest Robert Tralo) for the musical heritage of southern Albania. If we historically and geographically contextualize "At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me (The Joys and Sorrows of Southern Albanian Song)," we cannot consider this album merely an episode of ethnic music (a definition I personally despise) or folkloristic music. Instead, it is a true work of "world music," where this definition implies contamination and a cultural vision that goes beyond its own borders, with the content of the songs mostly tragic and about stories of longing and abandonment. But this is inevitable for artists who have a very particular history behind them, as we could also define the "particular" history of Albania and the entire region, especially since the nineties. Many of these musicians have been forced to stay away from their homeland for a long time. Adrianna Thanou and Donika Pecallari lived for decades in Greece due to the ostracism of Enver Hoxha, and the violinist Aurel Qurjo can be considered a true wanderer... It's difficult to select specific highlights from this beautiful album, where instrumental tracks like "Kaba me violine," "Valle minushi," "Valle e osman" stand out, particularly showcasing Qurjo's violin, reminiscent of both Albanian music and Middle Eastern and almost "Gypsy" sounds, as well as the qualities of the other musicians: the clarinet of Telando Feto, the percussion of Agron Nasi, the lute of Agron Murat, and the flute of Pellumb Meta. But the most evocative moments feature Adrianna Thanou and Donika Pecallari, starting with "Nenocke," "Penxherene e zotrise"... performances that are reinforced by the voice of Robert Tralo, which contrasts beautifully with the tones of the two vocalists. The result is an album rich in hypnotism and sometimes obsessive rhythms, especially thanks to the lute's contribution, filled with emotional and dramatic moments but all expressed with a certain elegance, light-years away from that noisy sound in the style of Goran Bregovic, which in the end has somewhat worn us all out.

#folk #worldmu