WOMAD

Yat-Kha

From Russia

Led by Albert Kuvezin, Yat-Kha take the ancient and mysterious style of Tuvan throat singing and mix it up with shamanic drums and guitar power chords. Kuvezin uses an ultra-bass vocal style known as ‘khoomei’ which, when allied with the upper-register vocals of multi-instrumentalist Aldyn-ooi Sevek, produces a thrilling and unique sound. Kuvezin likes to invest his music with a punk ethos, bringing this central Asian style into collision with the late twentieth century. Signed by head Chieftain Paddy Moloney to his own label, Yat-Kha released their debut album in 1999.