This multi-lingual concept album opens with Gabi Hartmann and Oan Kim’s ‘Salinda, la fille aux yeux de sel’ (in English: The Woman With Salt Eyes), a gurgle of a child’s voice in the sea speckled blend. Oh, we do like a rumba.
A three-part tale, the album narrates the story of a woman named Salinda, who lives on an imagined island. To heal her eyes, bear with us, she embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets of salt. And why not.
Innocence gives way to serenity and life’s disillusions.
Hartmann pays homage to Mercedes Sosa and Miriam Makeba along the way.
Saxist Laurent Bardainne guests a bit weedily on the pop-py “leave your mind behind” banger ‘Love High’ which is a co-write of Hartmann and Bardainne’s. Some great transcendentalising here in the production.
But Hartmann’s own ‘Sikolaiko’ is more intriguing.
The co-write with Norah Jones collaborator Jesse Harris, the organ driven ‘Into My World,’ leaps out most – pop jazz, toothsome, infectious, things that Hartmann does very well.
She’s also very French, rosbifs.
‘Ton monde secret’ – another Hartmann/Bardainne co-write – I liked more for its quiet intensity.
But Harris’ ‘Fool’s Paradise’ ”time i should go” song is another high water mark of this very varied trawl both for poignant vocal delivery and fine lyrics. Harris did it neatly chugging in a guitar accompaniment with Charlie Haden’s daughter Petra some years ago. Gabi adds a little sprezzatura monologue in French mingled in for this version.
Also a fave with us ‘Take a Swing at The Moon’ was a track of the week in these pages last year.
What else? Oh there’s a version of Gustavo Leguizamon and Manuel José Castilla’s ‘La Pomeña’ associated with Mercedes Sosa. Hartmann doesn’t belt it out like the Argentinian ”voice of the voiceless ones” did. Her approach is more turning the lamp down in its quietude.
There’s also a Baptiste Trotignon co-write ‘Melancholie.’ And what a lot is packed in.
Flautist Naïssam Jalal pops up on the ambient outlier, ‘Le Lever de Soleil.’
The charmingly rainforest bedecked Fernando Lorenalis & Roberto Moreno pagode (samba) swayer ‘Natureza’ is also covered and proves delightful.
The lullaby treatment of Mackay Davashe’s ”when the sun sets” song ‘Lakutshon’ Ilanga’ associated with Miriam Makeba is yet another strong feature of the choices.
As for ‘Take a Swing at the Moon’ it has some wonderfully arranged swooping strings by Maycon Ananias, a rhythm section and a waft of reliably spooky theremin (played by Oan Kim). Kim and the Oracle Sisters also crop up on the woozy ‘Drink the Ocean.’
popular on marlbank recently
