Circassian Music from Tradition to Black Metal, by Ored Recordings - Reports from Other Continents
Circassians are one of the North Caucasus' nations, the region with a diverse and rich culture - although their music is quite obscure, especially outside of this region. Punk-ethnographic label Ored Recordings from the small city of Nalchik explore cities and villages, aiming to find traditional, local, ethnic music of the Caucasian people. Ored Recordings takes different approaches towards traditional Circassian music in its current state: from authentic storytelling to modern post-folk music and black metal, in which melodies and images of Circassian ritual culture are revised.
The Reporter
Ored Recordings is an independent ethnographic project from Kabardino-Balkaria (southern Russia), founded in 2013 by Bulat Khalilov & Timur Kodzokov. Ored Recordings travels to towns, villages and mountain settlements in Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Southern Dagestan and Azerbaijan in search of folk musicians. The guiding principle of the project is the use of recordings made in the field: Ored only uses live recordings and are opposed to studio work with archaic folk music. They are interested in living sound that captures a specific moment with its special atmosphere and natural imperfections. Ored Recordings is keen to popularize and manifest the artistic potential of traditional music. The creators of the label value Circassian legends, Cossack songs, and the Sufi rituals of Chechnya. They collect field recordings from dinner parties, services of worship and festivals. They are interested in questions of authenticity, personality and canon. The group members give lectures to accompany their musical program, focusing on how local, folk art exists in the modern global information space.
About Reports from Other Continents
Le Guess Who? has launched its new video production ‘Reports from Other Continents’, in which people from all over the world share video reports on topics such as art, music, culture, and social life from within their local community. It’s a platform for people to tell their own story. Normally, Le Guess Who? shares these kinds of special stories about worldwide musical traditions and cultural developments through concerts and performing artists; now the festival has found a way to do so online.
All reports are made specifically for Le Guess Who? and are commissioned by the festival.
Animation by Dan Tombs / 2MS
Theme music by Ben Shemie
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