thee stranded horse

Churning Strides

Thee Stranded Horse is the new project by Yann Tambour (of Encre fame) which finds the Frenchman setting aside the preoccupations of his previous work for labels like Miasmah and Intr-version for more song-based material. Tambour's captivating kora skills are still at the heart of this music however, it's just that on this occasion he's also decided to use the instrument as a means of accompaniment to his vocals, which he delivers in French or English depending upon the track. Inevitably, Tambour's voice sounds more at ease in his native language, but on a piece like 'Misty Mist' there's more than a hint of Devendra Banhart's scrappy new age influence, complete with strange, contorted vocals that at times sound like a gallic take on freak folk, making for an oddly pleasing phenomenon. 'Le Sel' is delivered with a more fluid French charm, devoid of the accent quirks and stylistic contrivances of songs such as 'Fiend Over Your Knees' or the otherwise extremely beautiful title track, which are both transfigured into downright bizarre pieces of music by Tambour's off-the-rails voice, which is sure to be a real polarizer for listeners. However, if you like your folk a little on the freaky side there are ample rewards to be reaped here - and it's quite a startlin, beautiful listen. Recommended.