Artists
who's who and who's doing what?Think Of One
- country:Belgium
- style(s):Global Fusion
- label:Grammed Disk
- type:Band, Composer/Songwriter
- gender:male, female
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist submitted by:
In 1998, THINK OF ONE (TOO) spent several months in Marrakech, where they extensively studied authentic Gnawa and B'net Houariyat as it's still played in Southern Morocco. Encouraged by their jams with local musicians which resulted in a brand-new, enchanting hybrid of styles, a first concert in Marrakech and loads of audio- the band decided to take things to Belgium. Along with them came three Moroccan female singers and true Gnawa-master Abdel Kebir. Enter MARRAKECH EMBALLAGES ENSEMBLE. A year later, in November 1999, a first cd was released. The infectious fusion of Western experimentalism and traditional Moroccan trance, combined with real musical artisanship, turned out to be a landmark in crossover and received critical acclaim instantly.
The follow-up Marrakech Emballages Ensemble II (September 2000) came quickly and turned out to be an even bigger success. For their third 'Marrakech' album Think Of One got a little help from Mustafa Bourgogne, a violin player and a star in the local Shabi-scene. Through him the band found a studio in Casablanca and recorded Marrakech Emballage Ensemble III. The line-up had been slightly altered as tuba player Tobe Wouters had joined the band and their previous violin player was replaced by El Houssein.
So what is it that makes Marrakech Emballages Ensemble unique? In the past have been collaborations between Western musicians (Bill Laswell to name but one) and Gnawi, but Marrakech Emballages Ensemble is still the only band that combines both Gnawi and Houara, a most unusual blend which is rarely if ever- to be heard in Morocco itself. But Think of One has managed to combine this African-sounding music with the compositions of David Bovee and to mix a blend of Western styles with Houara, Gnawa and Shabi. Quite an achievement indeed.
2007...
After the Marrakech Emballages Ensemble adventure, Think Of One recorded and released two albums with four Brazilian guest musicians (CHUVA EM PO & TRAFICO). Both releases were followed by some extensive tours in Europe and a BBC 3 radio award (2004) and nomination (2007), twice in the category 'culture crossing'.
In 2006 the band got the chance to do a one-time concert with Amina and Lalabrouk because they were in Belgium for a much discussed theatre play. The vibe was sparkling again and it didn't take long for the band to decide they wanted a new album with the Moroccan guestmusicians.
So at the end of 2006 the band applied the well-approved working method once again and David Bovee went back to Marrakech to write some new songs and to practise the Shabi rhythms. In January 2007 he went for a last time, together with Roel Poriau, the drummer of the band. The rehearsals started when they were returned and in april 2007 the band will record the new album. The cd will be released by Crammed Discs in October 2007 (www.crammed.be).
For the new album Think Of One searched two new Moroccan/Brussels guestmusicians: the twin Hakim & Hicham Bouanani Moulay, who will replace Abdel Kebir and El Housseine el Yaqin.
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