Tamara Nouvo Groove
Ino Casablanca, « un homme et demi qui fait les choses » or, the man who does music that’ll make you smile
A Moroccan guy rapping on what sounds like a revisited bouyou beat was absolutely not on my bingo card for this year. But life has its own way to surprise you and I have to admit, this one baffled me, happily so. Sometimes, it will give you this type of music you didn’t know you needed. The one you listen to once and can’t get over so easily. The one showing you that there’s always more to discover.
My friend1 introduced me to Ino Casablanca’s music some weeks ago with Paraplui. She had randomly sent me the track as she always does, knowing that it had the potential to get me intrigued, at least. And it certainly did. After listening to Paraplui for the first time, I was already begging for more.
Thankfully, Tamara was right there, waiting for me. I saved the mixtape to my library right away, keeping it for the most suitable listening moment. It’s been just over a week now, and I’ve listened to the project too many times to just not talk about it.
Tamara is a 10 track long project where Ino Casablanca gives himself the right playground to explore a wide range of sound, from Afro Diasporic instrumentals to Hispanic and Arabic influenced ballads. This results in a mixtape that is more than sonically diverse. It offers a kind of music that successfully transports the listeners to multiple corners of the world, in less than 30 minutes.
Here, the rapper, singer, songwriter and producer crafts songs that go on both extremes. From very energetic and fast paced tracks that could easily find their place on a club DJ’s playlist for your next Friday night in Paris, to slower and suave tracks making you nostalgic and even melancholic.
Needless to say, Tamara comes with a gift for everyone. No matter your sensitivity, you’d surely find something attractive to your ears on this mixtape.
“Sous mes airs de mec bizarre / J’suis un mec bizarre”
I like the type of artists who create exactly how they are, without façades. The ones who remain authentic in whatever they build and share. And I think Ino Casablanca is one of those. He has nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of and everything to acquire. He owns his words and stands by them. Il fait les choses!
The man is goofy and really funny. Something that is clearly translated in the way he writes and constructs his tracks. And it’s so refreshing to experience. He also knows when to be serious though, if need be. His sarcasm and humor on one hand are naturally contrasted by lyrics with deeper meanings and more poetic lines on the other. This somehow creates a balanced and cohesive project where, even if each song is different from the one before, they still work astonishingly well together2.
“Et moi je ramène ce nouvo groove”
Tamara opens up with Nouvo Groove, a high energy track that catches the attention and seems to be setting one’s mind for what it is to follow. But then, there’s Albufeira, completely changing the vibe already. It’s a softer yet still groovy track, bringing us to the Portuguese coast and making me want to book a flight and go on a vacation at once.
Avant La Fin is next and is even calmer than the two songs preceding it3. Here, Nensi and Ino create a smooth and sensual dance in between heartbreak and unsaid thoughts. The mood is kept steady until the energy is eventually brought back up again with Fuck Larr. This recipe keeps being used throughout the project.
That’s where Tamara’s charm lies for me. In the fact that we never know what comes next. The listener goes from surprise to surprises until the project ends with Racaille. This last song itself works as the ultimate rollercoaster of sounds, with its twists and different acts.
“Pour toi j’ai quelques mots, pour moi j’garde toute ma rage / Devant tes virages comment faire pour rester calme / Tu m’dis de rester sage”
On Tamara, Ino Casablanca exploits his versatility to the most. He creates a rich and colorful piece as unique as it could be. The project attests that the artist has gained in maturity and skills, notably since his first EP Demna, dropped two years ago. Ino comes back now with something bolder and more expansive. Not only in the way he writes and the subjects he talks about in his lyrics but also in his sound and overall artistic direction.
Tamara4 leaves me so curious about what Ino Casablanca might come with next and I can’t wait to hear more from him!
If you enjoyed reading this review, here’s another one for you <3
Mental
The first song I’ve ever heard of Yseult was Corps, and I’ll always be grateful for it to have found me when it did. Corps is one of those tracks that truly left me speechless, deeply emotional and maybe changed forever. I am not exaggerating, I can promise you that.
Selective Taste is free to read today. However, if you’d like to support me further, please consider buying me a matcha latte; and if you like Afro House and Electronic Music you can stream my mixes here <3. Enjoy !
The ones sharing music with you are the ones you should keep close, always !!
This could qualify as an album and I won’t be mad at all
Without ever losing any groove
Is so good me thinks !! you should give it a try