1325 Ibn Battutah

Following a near 14-year break, Syriana return with their first full-length album since 2010’s acclaimed debut The Road to Damascus. Spearheaded by multi-instrumentalist Bernard O’Neill and guitarist Nick Page – who sadly passed away during recording in 2021 – this new album takes inspiration from the titular Ibn Battuta [also spelled Ibn Battutah], the 14th-century Moroccan explorer and scholar. Conceived as a chronological tone poem following Ibn Battuta’s storied 75,000 mile journey across North Africa, Iberia, the Middle East and Central Asia, the music on 1325 Ibn Battutah is as far-reaching as its subject, featuring a diverse line-up of guest musicians and vocalists.

The opening ‘Feast at Antaliyah’ begins with a field recording of Sufi musicians in Meknes, evoking Battuta’s native Morocco, and the beginning of his journey, in jubilant fashion, before exploding into a high-energy instrumental with Kalia Lyraki’s ney and Matthaois Tsahouridis’ lyra at the forefront. Battuta’s relationship with his wives and concubines is explored via the seven vocal tracks, with each singer giving voice to the woman in question. ‘The Greek Women of Ladhiq’ is a simmering percussion-heavy jam, with Maria João Branco interpreting Battuta’s words in her native Portuguese. ‘Al Karak, Kole Kizin Sarkisi’ opens with a haunting duduk solo by Harutyun Chkolyan, before giving focus to Olcay Bayir’s yearning Turkish-language guest performance. The album ends with ‘Law Inta Kont Hina’, a dedication to the late Nick Page, sung by Natacha Atlas. It’s a fitting conclusion to an album rich in emotions and ambitions.

1325 Ibn Battutah is a project packed with expert musicianship and diverse arrangements.