Sainkho Namchylak is one of the more important singers to come from the former Soviet sphere. Born and raised in Tuva, trained in music but denied credentials, she eventually went to Moscow to seek out the modern world. Sh... more »e studied modern composition, ancient folk traditions, and the art of multi-tonal "throat singing." As a member of the infamous avant garde ensemble Tri-O, she broke most of the rules and started to make a name for herself in the world of "new" music. Naked Spirit is her most complete work yet, as she explores jazz, classicism, shamanistic depth, and completely unfettered experiments--always centered around the voice, often layers and layers of her own voice. This is accompanied sparingly; a solo piano, a wailing dudek, a throbbing mouth harp, and a single drum are used to add color or texture to the vocal music. While Sainkho is often relegated to the "world music" bins usually reserved for folk and pop fusions of folk, she really belongs in the section devoted to free jazz and experimentations by artists like Meredith Monk or Rinde Eckert. This music is defiantly unclassifiable and all the more important for that defiance. --Louis Gibson« less
Sainkho Namchylak is one of the more important singers to come from the former Soviet sphere. Born and raised in Tuva, trained in music but denied credentials, she eventually went to Moscow to seek out the modern world. She studied modern composition, ancient folk traditions, and the art of multi-tonal "throat singing." As a member of the infamous avant garde ensemble Tri-O, she broke most of the rules and started to make a name for herself in the world of "new" music. Naked Spirit is her most complete work yet, as she explores jazz, classicism, shamanistic depth, and completely unfettered experiments--always centered around the voice, often layers and layers of her own voice. This is accompanied sparingly; a solo piano, a wailing dudek, a throbbing mouth harp, and a single drum are used to add color or texture to the vocal music. While Sainkho is often relegated to the "world music" bins usually reserved for folk and pop fusions of folk, she really belongs in the section devoted to free jazz and experimentations by artists like Meredith Monk or Rinde Eckert. This music is defiantly unclassifiable and all the more important for that defiance. --Louis Gibson
"NAKED SPIRIT--the PERFECT TITLE for the music therein. Sainkho's first song,"Naked Spirit", will unclothe, unmask and set your spirit free. The rest of the music continues the Journey...into yourself and beyond--fantastic relaxation/meditation music!If you are looking for something different; if you are tired of the same old music style; if you are in a rut of any kind, GET THIS CD! I highly recommend it! I need to broaden my horizons and this music is a step to take in doing that! Don't we all need some expansion?NAKED SPIRIT is mainly instrumental, the vocals are subtle and mainly in the background. I have to share with you the words that are unheard in the first song (but inside the CD cover. This should convince you of this CD's worth if I haven't already!)_________________________________________________________________"Naked Spirit" (PLEASE READ THIS!)"Life is a great journey through illusion. Every moment of this journey is so intense. Some people play with it, some people try to learn how to win it, some people just pass through it!...I'm sinking into every passing moment. And I'm grateful for this illusion which presents me every second with a new fruit to taste. Sweetness, sorrow, anger, happiness, passion and depression. All is Fullness and Emptiness. Oh, what a taste!...I'm born naked and I will die naked. All I can take from this great illusion called Life is my Spirit..."_________________________________________________________________SAINKHO is a truly gifted artist--completely original and refreshing--an amazingly powerful soul. Before I finished listening to the first song, I had heard enough, I KNEW I was buying it. The first song of a CD is so important. It sets the mood...it immediately grabs my attention as to either "yes" or "no." I have owned this CD for awhile now and it and only a handful of others have captured my heart on the first song so intensely that I knew I was buying it. Needless to say this is very rare. How many times has this happened to you? I was meant to have this CD and if you are reading this, I think you are also.KEEP SEARCHING. ISN'T THAT WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT? GROW, EXPAND, FIND PEACE, TRUTH AND JOY! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!Kellye Joy"
Beauty is a rare thing
09/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sainkho has the purest voice. So fragile and quintessentail."
Naked Spirit
Maxim Eremine | Atlanta, GA, USA | 05/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What happens if you take a Tuvian throat-singer, educate her in western overtone music, and make her join an experimental jazz band for a few years? That's right - you get Sainkho Namtchylak. Let's face it - not many people would be able to locate the republic of Tuva on the world map. Politically Tuva is a part of Russian Federation, located just north of Russian-Mongolian border. Culturally, however, Tuva has very little in common with Russia (other than its love for vodka, which became a beverage equivalent of Lingua Franca in the whole territory of Russian Federation.) The Republic of Tuva is predominantly Buddhist and Shamanist and has strong cultural ties to Mongolia and Tibet. The Tuvian folk music is dominated by throat-singing and the instrument of choice is Jews Harp. All of these musical characteristics can be found in the music of Sainkho Namtchylak. In addition to her Tuvian folk roots, she studied traditional western music in Gnessinsky Music College in Moscow, and later became an integral part of Russian experimental jazz band - Tri-O. Since then she released many fantastic albums, all of which are quite different from each other - from experimental and upbeat electronic fusion of "Stepmother city" (2002) to much more chill, traditional, and even slightly "new-agy" "Naked Spirit" (1998). Don't let the new-aginess of this album scare you - it's a beautiful record filled with Sainkho's signature vocals, shamanic beats, and beautiful meditative compositions. "...I'm born naked and I will die naked. All I can take from this great illusion called Life is my Spirit..." - writes Sainkho in the notes accompanying this album. From this phrase comes the name of the album - "Naked Spirit," name that perfectly reflects the mood of the album.
When I first heard this album, I was slightly, disappointed, because I was expecting something more experimental, or vice versa - something more traditional, however the album truly grew on me. The more I listened to it, the more I liked the unpretentious yet many-layered compositions, filled with subtle nuances and beautiful vocal arrangements. "Naked Spirit" became one of my all-time favorite albums and I highly recommend it to everyone. It's a good introductory album to the music of Sainkho Namtchylak - one of the greatest musicians to come out of the Republic of Tuva - a land rich in musical traditions and motherland to many fantastic musicians.
musicmaxim.blogspot.com"
Awesome voice and music
Wiremu T T Williams | Rotorua New Zealand | 02/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sainkho has the amasing ability to transport your soul to other places,her vocal range is impressive,up there with Yma Sumac,I recommend getting this album.looking foward to her other album."