Title: The Hidden Oasis
Artist: Tonal Y Nagual
Genre: Folk / Chanson / Electronic
Release Date: 4th April 2008
Label: Thonar Records
Album Review
TONAL Y NAGUAL was born in the heads of two guys namely Guiseppe Tonal and Tikki Nagual and out of their not always normal ideas they formed songs which already landed on various compilations and some of them have been eternalized on the debut ‘The Unseen Desert’. They can also come up with an illustrious list of familiar bands; they already played some live shows with. Among those names are KIRLIAN CAMERA & THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS just to name a few.
The second album ‘The Hidden Oasis’ was just released by the young label Thonar Records specializing in Neo-Folk, Ambient and the likes and it doesn’t spoil anything to say that the album has something of both, whereas I have to say that the influences of Neo-Folk and Chanson are the predominant ones. Many of the songs on ‘The Hidden Oasis’ live on a rather solemn; sometimes also subtly melancholic atmosphere. Good examples to prove that are surely ‘Serrants of the Moon’ that gets with a minimalist line-up of acoustic guitar, drums and vocals and speaking of the vocals in that song: My ears most probably will never get used to them in their much too high note (No offence). ‘Scarlet Wine’ on the other hand surprises with a good mixture of full male and female vocals carried by an oriental synth melody as well as percussion rhythms. Also rather experimental approaches found their way onto the album with the minimal-frisky arrangement in ‘Tides’ for example. Friends and admirers of story-telling will be pleased with ‘A Journey’ where the musical structure mainly comprises of subdued acoustic guitar and a harmonium if my ears don’t deceive me as well as casual drum parts.
So the last open question is who should risk an ear on ‘The Hidden Oasis’. In any case people, who usually listen to medieval music but also one or he other fan of electronic sounds will have a fancy for it. Though some of the songs re nice, the album as a whole isn’t my cup of tea. And the sound quality could be better.
Tracklist
01 Lafayette á l'aube – 2:30
02 Lost children – 4:18
03 Servants of the moon – 4:27
04 Le perroquet macabre – 3:12
05 réve – 0:31
06 Lover's lane – 2:13
07 La figlia della morte – 4:29
08 Midday calling – 2:58
09 Ambivalence – 4:42
10 Dolly song - 4:04
11 Fiumente – 3:43
12 Scarlet wine – 4:58
13 Tides – 3:45
14 La riviere – 5:58
15 A journey – 4:03
16 Evenings fall – 2:44
17 * - 2:25
Line-up
Giuseppe Tonal – Varous Instruments
Tikki Nagual – Various Instruments
MadMoses – Various Instruments
YouDid – Various Instruments
Website
http://www.sonicbids.com/tonalynagual / http://www.myspace.com/tonalynagual
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 6
Extras: -
Total: 6
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