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Last year Titi Robin was a BBC World Music nominee as he is France’s leading exponent of the gypsy guitar exponent but there’s much more to this album that is his first official UK release.

Kali Sultana been two years in the making and see’s Robin as a world music axe hero whether on guitar, sitar or oud; a sort of eastern mix of Leo Abrahams’ The Grape And The Grain and Gianmarco Liguori Ancient Flight Text.

There’s certainly similarity with the cinematic theme that drives the music; well, in his 30 year career Titi has written more than a couple of film soundtracks and worked with loads of musicians including the Gipsy Kings. But this is nothing like the Gipsy Kings. Far better I’d say as Kali Sultana is formed of 17 parts with various interludes (its a bit of a concept). It translates literally as ‘Black Queen’ and is Titi’s personal quest for “a goddess who represents this ideal”.

I’m sure Mr. Robin wouldn’t agree but if you want to cut to the chase, start with CD2 (The Third Movement) for this is the best mix of his European gyspy roots and influences from North Africa, Middle East and North Africa.

‘Sara Tourne et S’envole’ is influenced a by Gilles Peterson’s current tango nuevo favourites Mama! Milk but you’ve got to be in a downtempo mood to appreciate this one. It’s mostly instrumental but the few café bar vocals (all in French) are provided by Titi’s daughter Maria. ‘Khuda teri Kasam’ and ‘Rumba Sultana’ are highlights not only for the vocals, but for the rest of the band. Renaud Pion (clarinet and sax), Francis Varis (accordion), Ze Luis Nascimento (percussion) and Kalou Stalin (bass) are superb and are so integral to the project - sometimes even eclipsing Titi.

Who fancies a swift half at Café Gouge where The Layfetter Afro-Rock Band used to hang out? (well in my minds’ eye anyway). This is a very difference sound to The Layfetter Afro-Rock Band but is a reflection as to how much more culturally integrated the sound of Paris/Europe is; a “musical tapestry”

If you’ve listen to any of Carlos Nino’s show lately on KPFK FM he’s as likely to play some indo-jazz as Buffalo Springfield. Not quite alt.Buffalo Springfield but there’s various tracks on here that are a alt.indo-jazz (but not in a pure copying sense; he’s another artist that doesn’t like the term fusion). Anyway, the introduction ‘Sable’ melts into ‘L’aube impatiente’ that highlight’s Pion’s clarinet. The first movement also includes a track ‘Afghani De Casa’ that represents a Celtic-Afghan wedding with accordion and bouzouq - could there really be an Irish bar in Karboul selling Guinness? Ross Kemp will no doubt find it if there is. Anyway, if you’re into The Chieftans with a Arabic swing, ‘Afghani De Casa’ is the one! ‘Homme Fair D’argile’ ends the first movement on a high of psych-oud out drum’n’ clarinet/accordion - beautiful.

Before the 2nd Movement starts, there’s a jazzed-out minimal break of ‘Jeux fe Paumes’ that’s heavy on the percussion (series mixtape interludes al a Build An Ark; there’s the Carlos Nino link!). Back to the Breton party mood, ‘La Brulure de L’eau’ is a beauty.

Robin to date is best known for his album Gitans but Kali Sultana is set to have an even bigger impact as he’s already performed at WOMAD Australia and New Zealand. And currently touring with Gulabi Sapera and his band in India, it won’t be until Septeber that Titi wil be touring the UK for the first time but there’s an album launch at Cargo on March 24th. If Mama!Milk can blow them away at Gilles Peterson Worldwide Award, Thierry Titi Robin is next sur le seuil.

Another incredible album for 2009 that gets better on every listen.

Reviewed: Titi Robin - Kali Sutana, L’ombre Du Ghazal (Naïve) Cat. No. WN145173 Release date: 16th February 2009
CD1
Ouverture
1. Le Sable
Premier Mouvement
2. L’aube impatiente
3. Salâm à Suraj
4. Les premiers pas de Sultana
5. L’ombre de la pierre noire
6. Sur le seuil
7. Afghani de Casa
8. L’enfance de Kali
9. Reflets du désir
10. Homme fait d’argile
Intermède
11. Jeux de paumes (premiers songes)
Deuxième Mouvement
12. La brûlure de l’eau
13. A ta source
14. Ses longs cheuveux noirs
15. Le goût du sel
16. La terre cet animal
17. Le trouble de l’eau
CD2
Troisième Mouvement
1. Appel
2. Khuda, Teri Kasam
3. Sultana La Kali
Intermède
4. Un Rubis Du Yemen (Deuxième Songe)
Quartrième Mouvement
5. Premierre Danse Pour Khusrau
6. Deuxieme Danse Pour Machrab
7. Troisieme Danse Pour Emre
Intermède
8. Reve D’une Nuit D’orange (Troisieme Songe)
Cinquième Mouvement
9. Sara Tourne Et S’envole
Sixième Mouvement
10. Retour Au Pays
11. Ghazal Sans Parole
Septième Mouvement
12. Lettres De Marie Jacobe A Marie Salome
13. Rumba Sultana
Epilogue
14. Nouvelle Aube Au Désert

Links:
www.myspace.com/thierrytitirobin
www.myspace.com/gulabisaperathierrytitirobin
www.thierrytitirobin.com/anglais
www.live-boutique.com
www.naive.fr