IF ONLY I COULD HIBERNATE

Johanni Curtet is a musician, ethnomusicologist, producer and artistic director of Routes Nomades. For 20 years, he has been practicing and studying khoomii - Mongolian overtone singing - experimenting it through various creations. Several records of his production have been released by Buda musique: Tserendavaa & Tsogtgerel (2008), An Anthology of Mongolian Khoomii (2017), Khusugtun (2020), Batsukh Dorj (2023), as well as creations of his trio Meikhaneh. With this soundtrack, Johanni signs a double premiere, a film score and a record in his name. This film is a cry from the heart for Mongolia perceived through the harsh daily life of a family in Ulaanbaatar: the abandoned yurt neighborhoods, the daily fight to survive the winter, the pollution of the coldest capital in the world, the question of equal opportunities, but also social issues such as the rural exodus and the gap between the nomadic presence and urban planning. Beyond the problems, Ulzii, the main character, embodies a great hope which pervades the entire story. The overtone voice is the continuity of this path of hope strewn with doubts that Ulzii follows, but also reminds his region of origin, Altai. Like his life, the instrumentarium is simple: guitar, doshpuluur lute, morin khuur fiddle, double bass, jaw harps and beatbox; just like their way of playing. This music is at the same time minimal, cheerful, soft or angry, repetitive to the point of stubbornness, like the moods that pass through the questions of this teenager who is trying to make it. It refers to Mongolian identity to become universal. The pentatonic modes rub shoulders with dissonances or blues, while seeking sometimes the rhythms from other nomadic cultures. Meanwhile, the discreet harmonic presence is everywhere. With : Johanni Curtet: beatbox, khoomii, throat singing, guitar, doshpuluur lute, jaw harps, carillon Mandakhjargal Daansuren: morin khuur fiddle, khoomii, throat singing Kham Meslien: double bass
Release Date: 2024.3.10

1. Ekhlel Khoomii [Opening]
2. Eyereg Ayaz I [Ulzii'S Daily Life]
3. Beatbox Khoroolol [Before Meeting The Aunt]
4. Theme Of Hope [Studying Physics]
5. Dotor Davchidna [After Quarrel With Mom]
6. Dan Moi I [The Coldest Capital In The World]
7. Eyereg Ayaz II [In The Ger District]
8. Slow Blues I [The Delivery]
9. Echo Khoomii [Call Of The Altai]
10. Carillon [Feeling Fortunate]
11. Dan Moi II [Warm Overtones Inside]
12. Slow Blues II [The Pollution]
13. Keep Breathing Dan Moi
14. L'ame Givree I [The Dilemma]
15. Solo In The Forest
16. Walk In The Forest
17. L'ame Givree II [Tears In The Snow]
18. Ayany Khoomii [Journey To Altai]
19. A Phone Call To Mum
20. Theme Of Hope [Final]