Han pasado 10 años desde que el legendario músico Robert Plant se embarcó en una gira por Mali para tocar en el Festival in the Desert… pero hasta ahora podemos ver cómo se vivió el viaje del cantante a África.
Dividido en 8 partes, las cuales se estrenarán cada lunes (la primera parte salió este lunes 11 de noviembre), el documental Zirka fue filmado por Robert Plant y su hijo.
Aquí les dejamos la primera parte de Zirka, así como una carta que publicó Robert con respecto a su viaje y al documental:
“Call it fate or lady luck smiling down on me…
In 2001 my life in music hit a wondrous curve onto a road of good fortune – of new invention. I am ever intrigued by new possibilities and places and people to land amongst. Priory of Brion had exhausted its possibilities. I still had shows booked in Scandinavia that I must honour..
Charlie Jones had played bass and co-written with me on and off for 10 years and suggested a Bristol connection, Johnny Baggott and Clive Deamer..
Porl Thompson late of The Cure and some Page & Plant work was free – a unit was taking shape. I needed to find a foil for Porl..a guitarist who might turn the style away from the well trodden path..I called Hamid from Transglobal Underground. I admire their work and that of Natasha Atlas who often joined forces with them..
The circle of musicians stretches through Arab/Euro collisions down into the Mahgreb and beyond…Enter Justin Adams…an impressive character steeped in knowledge and reference of the music and culture that had bewitched me since my first Marrakech visit in 1972.Equally at home with The Clash or Rachid Taha, Ol Kalsoum and the Berber music of the Anti Atlas….
The complete mélange …almost. The puzzle was finally settled. Skin Tyson brought all the psychedelic swirl, acoustic beauty, warmth and humour (Porl left us after the Dreamland album. Charlie Jones moved on). Billy Fuller with extraordinary power and meld stepped forward. Thus Strange Sensation was born for real..
Justin, outside of playing guitar, tehardant (african lute) and bendirs, is a much sought after producer. He worked the first and third Tinariwen albums . His association with French co-operative LoJo and their Moroccan and Malian counterparts presented countless musical and social options. Through one of these portals Justin had been invited to return to Mali to the Festival in the Desert 2003.
Me, Skin and Logan offered to carry his bags!!! And did….
Zirka is a rough travelogue of just that…A journey of revelation…one of the most illuminating and humbling experiences of my life.
A journey that took us from the scurry and bustle of our world into the homeland of the Tuareg..the Sahel of Mali, Timbuctoo and north to Essakane.
A journey that could only reinforce the power and the great gift of music across and between cultures..sharing outside of language. A world where for awhile, at least borders, boundaries and barriers once again fell away..as it was long ago..— RP”
