Uakti

• Genre: Percussion

About

Uakti are an avant-garde ensemble who play found objects and uniquely designed instruments. The brainchild of Brazilian Marco Antonio Guimaraes, who studied musical composition at university in Bahia, their instruments are made of glass, wood, PVC pipe and other percussive objects. The instrumental timbres are not ordinary, yet in the playing become reminiscent of vibes, marimba, flute and brass. They also use whistles and occasionally interject an audible yet indecipherable voice. Like the soundtrack for a postmodern film noir set in a remote South American village, eerie, unknown qualities create dramatic tension in the compositions. Named after the mythical Amazonian figure Uakti, whose body was riddled with holes which produced a magical music when the wind blew, these musicians work like shamans, uncovering new combinations of tone and texture in their musical rituals.

- Robert Leaver