Yat-Kha hail from one of the most remote parts of the planet - the Tuva Republic - high up in plains and snowy mountains of southern Siberia, a place famous for extraordinary multiple "khoomei" throatsinging vocal techniques, beautiful songs and wild eagles. Led by ultra-bass singer and guitarist Albert Kuvezin (formerly of Huun-Huur-Tu), the group’s latest recording Re-Covers (just released in the US) is the invigorating hybrid progeny of classic rock, blues, folk and reggae tunes, fused with traditional Tuvan singing and instrumentation (sizzling guitar breaks are performed by zithers).
“Nick Cave, eat your heart out. Forget African blues for a moment. This album has a Tuvan take on the Memphis Minnie classic ‘When the levee breaks’ (which Led Zeppelin had a go at). With his subterranean deep throat growl, Albert Kuvezin’s voice makes even old Howling Wolf sound like a mincing sissy, and he and Yat-Kha must have been tempted to make an entire album of Siberian blues. Instead, they decided to abseil daringly across the entire rock face of Western pop…Bob Marley’s ‘Exodus’ is quite mesmerizing while the scary alien take on Iron Butterfly’s prog-rock classic ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ should probably only be listened to from behind the sofa…But it’s unlikely there will be a more fun recording reviewed in Songlines this year.” (Songlines, 5-stars)
