In 2023, Herman Klapholz (AH CAMA-SOTZ) and Gwenn Trémorin (FLINT GLASS) reconvene with a shared vision: to coalesce their talents in the creation of a joint album. Their collaboration finds its genesis in a mutual fascination with ritual and tribal soundtrack, sparked by contemplations on the present predicament of indigenous amerindian peoples spanning from the northern reaches of canada to the pristine depths of the amazonian rainforests.
The rich diversity of natural landscapes across the american continents has generated an array of diverse cultures, each bearing its unique imprint upon the fabric of human history. Through their collaborative endeavor, the two musicians draw inspiration from this mosaic of indigenous communities and endeavor to pay tribute to the resilience and cultural heritage of these marginalized populations, while also exploring their unique perspectives on mortality and the afterlife.
In the spiritual cosmologies of many indigenous tribes, death is not an end but a transition, marking the passage of the soul into an eternal realm where ancestral spirits dwell. For some, death is not feared but embraced as a natural part of existence, with the departed finding solace in a spirit world (Wakan Tanka) free from the burdens of earthly suffering.
In essence, WAKAN TANKA album is a testament to the enduring spirit of indigenous peoples, celebrating their profound connection to the cycles of life and death, and the resilience of their cultural traditions in the face of adversity.