Today sees the release of “Marivere gati”, the new single from Tunisian electronic producer Sofyann Ben Youssef aka AMMAR 808 – the mastermind behind Bargou 08 and keyboardist of Kel Assouf (and producer of their superb album Black Tenere which we reviewed here).
It is the first single from his eagerly awaited new album ‘Global Control / Invisible Invasion’ (due out 18 September 2020 on Glitterbeat Records).
While he reinvented North African music on his last album Maghreb United (2018), for this new project, he travelled to Chennai in southern India for an equally breath-taking new adventure.
On “Marivere gati”, AMMAR 808 has collaborated with the Carnatic singer Susha to create a track that melds futurist syncopations with a hypnotic, timeless narrative. “Marivere gati” is an ode of devotion to the goddess Meenakshi, who is an avatar of Parvati, the Hindu goddess of fertility, love, and devotion. The visuals on the accompanying video are hypnotic and enchanting, dancing figures constructed of symbols reinforcing that blend of the ancient and modern.
English translation:
“Except you, divine mother, who else in this earth is to protect us?
The ones who fall on your feet, giving up completely their ego,
you protect them, take care of them.
Meenakshi I believe in you.”
Original lyrics (in Telugu):
“Marivere gati evaramma
mahilo nannu brochuTaku
Saranagata rakshaki neeveyani
sada nammiti nammitini minakshi.”
AMMAR 808 – ‘Global Control / Invisible Invasion’ is due 18 September 2020 on Glitterbeat Records.
Stream/download the AMMAR 808 single “Marivere gati” (feat. Susha) on all major digital platforms: https://IDOL.lnk.to/Marivere_gati