Yat-Kha

Though Albert Kuvezin grew up in the tiny Soviet republic of Tuva and learned the astonishing polytonal singing technique, khoomei, that’s the hallmark of the country, he also found inspiration in underground American acts like Sonic Youth. (We can only imagine how hard it was to get a copy of EVOL in 1980s Communist-era Siberia.) So it’s no surprise that of the many Tuvan throatsinging groups that have found an audience among Western world-music fans, his group Yat-Kha has the greatest interest in rocking out—combining traditional Tuvan instruments and song styles with that quintessentially American export, the electric guitar. When they’re really cooking, as on “Karangailyg Kara Hovaa (On the Endless Black Steppe),” from the 2000 album Yenisei-Punk, Kuvezin and crew pound out a dark, rich, dangerous, and thoroughly satisfying witches’ brew. The group kicks off its U.S. tour right here in Minneapolis. 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674; www.thecedar.org