Ian Brennan, the GRAMMY Award-winning music producer and field-recording specialist, has yet again pushed boundaries with his latest album release, The Oldest Voice in the World (Azerbaijan) “Thank you for bringing me back to the sky”. With over 50 releases under his belt, Brennan’s latest album takes us on an unforgettable journey to the southern mountains of Azerbaijan, where the Talysh people reside. There, Brenan and his wife, the talented filmmaker and photographer Marilena Umuhoza Delli, sought out some of the oldest living people on earth.
This album features the wisdom and voices of individuals over 100 years old, and includes 22 original pieces along with five bonus tracks featuring some of Brennan’s past collaborators, such as The Kronos Quartet, Tinariwen, and Malawi Mouse Boys, among others. The album is set to be released on April 7, 2023, under Six Degrees Records.
In their search for the world’s oldest people, Brennan and Delli stumbled upon a region where outsiders rarely dared to venture. They encountered individuals who had survived centuries and had stories to share that were not only inspiring but served as an antidote to the prevalent ageism in our society. The couple visited remote villages and discovered that most of the centenarians were living without indoor plumbing, sleeping on floor-bound mattresses, and yet, they welcomed Brennan and Delli with open arms.
Their arrival was particularly timely, as the villagers had been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of the residents over 100 years old had recently passed away, including the oldest known woman in the country. Despite the challenges, Brennan and Delli persevered, recording the voices of some of the oldest people on earth in their natural living environments.
As Brennan and Delli met with the centenarians, they discovered that one theme was ever-present in their music: the love of their mothers. For these individuals, the secret to a long life was simple: they were loved. Brennan recorded their voices in their natural living environments, using everyday objects such as the wood-burning furnace, a walker, their own footsteps, a broken bedroom door, or the farm flour grinder as accompanying instruments.
Brennan’s reputation for capturing singers in an uninhibited and authentic fashion has taken him to far-flung corners of the world, from South Sudan to Palestine, and from Cambodia to Romania.
Curiously, the press release focuses on the producer and does not mention the names of the singers.
You can stream the songs or purchase them at Bandcamp or purchase from Amazon.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.