Batsükh Dorj

"This remarkable musician perfectly masters the different throat singing styles typical of the Tuvans: khöömei (contracted throat singing), sygyt (whistled throat singing), kargyraa (deep throat singing), ezenggileer (lit. “stirrups”), and borbangnadyr (lit. “rolling”). Accompanied by Johanni Curtet, specialist in throat-singing in the West, Batsükh sings about his nomadic culture."

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Tsengel, the western most village of Mongolia. In the remote foothills of the upper Altai mountains, Batsükh Dorj perpetuates khöömei in his community. Accompanied by Johanni Curtet, specialist in throat-singing in the West who arranged and produced their first album, Batsükh sings us about his nomadic culture through mountains and travels, notably by imitating the rhythms of horses and the flow of water. A rare and complete artist: luthier, he masters his own sound; and composer he brings a major contribution to his musical tradition.

This encounter between a Tuvan musician and a French researcher-musician in search of harmonic sounds results in the Altai Blues, where the art of khöömei unites them. Seeking a folk acoustic sound in vast spaces, it is a free and spontaneous interpretation.

Compositions in the codes of the tradition, revisited Tuvan traditional music, a fiddle that makes us forget the temporality, a lute that punctuates our cavalcades, the overtones that connect us to the elements, a timeless music, in tribute to our ancestors.

With :
Batsükh Dorj: vocals, khöömei, kargyraa, sygyt, igil fiddle, doshpuluur lute, shoor flute, khomus mouth harp, attinduyou horse hooves, khai nose whistle
Johanni Curtet: vocals, kharkhiraa, isgeree khöömii, guitar, doshpuluur lute, dan moi mouth harp

“The atmospheric ‘Bainak’ at nearly eight minutes showcases Dorj’s plaintive gentle singing voice as well as his mastery of khöömei, while the well-produced ‘dry’ recording gives the release an honest intimacy.” ★★★★

Songlines
“The potential listener can hear some folklore-inspired variant of the Altai blues, through which elements of the past and present collide and where an unusual expressive atmosphere dominates”

TMM

Batsükh Dorj

“The atmospheric ‘Bainak’ at nearly eight minutes showcases Dorj’s plaintive gentle singing voice as well as his mastery of khöömei, while the well-produced ‘dry’ recording gives the release an honest intimacy.” ★★★★

“The potential listener can hear some folklore-inspired variant of the Altai blues, through which elements of the past and present collide and where an unusual expressive atmosphere dominates”