ELINA DUNI - Partir
ECM 670 8641
Elina Duni (voice, piano, guitar, percussion)
Recorded July 2017
Partir meaning 'departure', can be interpreted in a variety of ways for the Tirana-born vocalist, who after two highly original quartet albums, Matanë Malit and Dallëndyshe for ECM returns with an all solo album that seems to be continuation of her work with the quartet, and a bringing together of the work with her mother, the novelist, poet and essayist Besa Myftiu. Duni had been involved in recitals of her mother's where the readings were interspersed with musical interludes on guitar and percussion, in what is surely her most intimate and personal statement to date.
The theme of love, loss and leaving still plays an important part of Duni's musical oeuvre, however on this outing she has been conscious to steer away from the focus on Albanian songs of the previous albums, and instead looks to draw influences from the musical traditions of Kosovo, Armenia, Macedonia, Switzerland and Arab-Andalusia, and singing in no less that nine languages, Albanian, German, French, English, Italian, Portuguese, Armenian, Yiddish and Arabic that serve to emphasise the emotions that are experienced by people across borders and continents. Indeed, as with the Matanë Malit and Dallëndyshe, the language in which a song is sung does not dilute the impact of the music but rather distils the essence of the song into a universal language understood by all.
There is never any possibility of a solo recording containing any hint of self-indulgence or excess, as Duni plays to her strengths. Her accompaniment serves as no more than that, to support the song and to allow the meaning to come through. Not obscured by virtuosity, or the need to add overdubs or multi-tracking, Elina's arrangements are pared tastefully to the bare minimum, whether accompanying herself on guitar, piano or the daf (the frame drum of the Middle East), the listener is always in the moment of the story told by Duni's compelling and expressive voice. This is no more powerfully in evidence than on the a capella rendition of the traditional song from Kosovo, 'Kanga E Kurbetit' which translated means 'The Exile Song'.
Partir maybe be a departure for Elina Duni in terms of working in a different musical environment, and working away from the quartet sound that she had inhabited fr a decade, but finds the singer furthering her her highly personal and emotive way of delivering a song that carries a strong message without becoming lost in pathos but delivers hope and optimism in the way she can she can reach out with her ability to communicate directly and intimately with her audience.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 670 8641
Elina Duni (voice, piano, guitar, percussion)
Recorded July 2017
Partir meaning 'departure', can be interpreted in a variety of ways for the Tirana-born vocalist, who after two highly original quartet albums, Matanë Malit and Dallëndyshe for ECM returns with an all solo album that seems to be continuation of her work with the quartet, and a bringing together of the work with her mother, the novelist, poet and essayist Besa Myftiu. Duni had been involved in recitals of her mother's where the readings were interspersed with musical interludes on guitar and percussion, in what is surely her most intimate and personal statement to date.
The theme of love, loss and leaving still plays an important part of Duni's musical oeuvre, however on this outing she has been conscious to steer away from the focus on Albanian songs of the previous albums, and instead looks to draw influences from the musical traditions of Kosovo, Armenia, Macedonia, Switzerland and Arab-Andalusia, and singing in no less that nine languages, Albanian, German, French, English, Italian, Portuguese, Armenian, Yiddish and Arabic that serve to emphasise the emotions that are experienced by people across borders and continents. Indeed, as with the Matanë Malit and Dallëndyshe, the language in which a song is sung does not dilute the impact of the music but rather distils the essence of the song into a universal language understood by all.
There is never any possibility of a solo recording containing any hint of self-indulgence or excess, as Duni plays to her strengths. Her accompaniment serves as no more than that, to support the song and to allow the meaning to come through. Not obscured by virtuosity, or the need to add overdubs or multi-tracking, Elina's arrangements are pared tastefully to the bare minimum, whether accompanying herself on guitar, piano or the daf (the frame drum of the Middle East), the listener is always in the moment of the story told by Duni's compelling and expressive voice. This is no more powerfully in evidence than on the a capella rendition of the traditional song from Kosovo, 'Kanga E Kurbetit' which translated means 'The Exile Song'.
Partir maybe be a departure for Elina Duni in terms of working in a different musical environment, and working away from the quartet sound that she had inhabited fr a decade, but finds the singer furthering her her highly personal and emotive way of delivering a song that carries a strong message without becoming lost in pathos but delivers hope and optimism in the way she can she can reach out with her ability to communicate directly and intimately with her audience.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
