Artist: SaQi
& SuRaj
Title:
Dust into Gold
Label:
Desert Trax
Released:
16th
November
When I first saw this release
advertised I initially thought I have no idea who these guys are, but
I was intrigued at the promise of a deep fusion of progressive
electronic downtempo and dance music with a variety of Middle-Eastern
realms of sound. I’m still none the wiser to the previous
productions of SaQi an electro-acoustic producer and trumpet player.
However, SuRaj a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist has performed for
many years as part of of the Qawwali ensemble Fanna fi Allah.
Throwing several guest vocalists into the melting pot and a couple of
re-mixes added to the anticipation.
The album begins with the
title track and features the vocals from Shazieh Shah, which I found
to be melodic and rather than the Azam Ali’esque vocals I expected,
I found the whole piece closer to Massive Attack with Tracey Thorn.
The next track named ‘SuRaj’ I expect as his Oud performance
provides a backbone to the synth and flute melodies that accompany
the piece. Moving on the direction changes once more with Eastern
European flavour of ‘Babushka’ featuring Sarasvati Dasi (who has
worked with the Polish Ambassador) and placing more focus on the
trumpet of SaQi.
Once again the style changes
with the Sufi number ‘Taje Dare’ featuring SuRaj’s band Fanna
fi Allah fused perfectly with SaQi’s trumpet. Then it switches back
to more of the downtempo Massive Attack style with ‘Higher Place’
this time featuring vocals from Pepper Proud. Sarasvati Dasi returns
on ‘Anu Pama’ which returns to the desert in a stereotypical
fashion.
We then encounter the first of
the re-mixes with Treavor Moontribes take on the title track under
his Forever and Ever pseudonym, which adds a slightly growling
electronic emphasis to the piece. Once again the emphasis switches
back to the acoustic this time fusing the skills of renowned Israeli
oud player Atallah with SaQi’s trumpet. The final piece of the
jigsaw is the SAAND re-mix of ‘Higher Place’ where I think he
injects a bit of magic to the piece, which wasn’t bad to begin
with.
To summarise this release may
not be on everyone’s radar. However, if you like your electronic
world fusions to contain real instruments, it’s definitely worth
giving it your ears at least once and you really can’t fault them
for variety.
Reviewed by Woodzee
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