Aïda

Taking inspiration from traditional folk, tribal groove, French rap and the Tokyo underground scene, Maïa Barouh is an artist that picks her colours from a varied palette. The Franco-Japanese singer and flautist examines the concept of ‘between’ on her latest album – the title translates as just that – straddling languages, genres and geographies.

A trip-hop record at its root, Aïda weaves together Barouh's varied influences with some success. Opening track ‘Tokyo Ondo’ sees Barouh singing in Japanese, turning folk rhythms into shifting percussive patterns over which voice and flute take it in turns to lead the melody. An aspect of the album that offers little ambiguity is the themes, and Barouh pulls no punches as she tackles feminism, anti-Asian racism and Brexit, even if this can be a little on the nose at times – see ‘Exit’ where Barouh uses Theresa May soundbites and the refrain, ‘Do you wanna Brexit with me?’ Ultimately, though, Barouh has created an incredibly individual and effortlessly listenable record that never does the same thing twice.