Al-Zarqa

While the Cairo-born musician Ali Khattab is described as a flamenco guitarist, it's better to think of him simply as an artist devoted to melismatic, modal music, of the kind that runs through this entire eight-piece sequence. The music gels like concept albums do: individual pieces flow together as part of a whole, making a soundscape that simultaneously depicts a mood landscape. It's the perfect soundtrack for everyday life: whether you're working, having friends around or even meditating.

One of the last records to be produced by Mario Pacheco (the man behind the recordings of ‘nu flamenco’ on his pioneering Madrid-based Nuevos Medios label), this album places the exquisite musicianship right up front. In fact, I initially thought it might be too sinuous and fluent for its own good, missing the defining splash and impact that roots flamenco guitar offers. On repeat listens I fell under the spell of Khattab's amazing abilities, appreciating the fine detail of a pan-Mediterranean ensemble in which accordion, Oriental flute, saz and oud interweave and solo over gentle percussion and undulating bass lines which in turn fuse with cello and violin. Highlights include ‘Tangos del Nile’, a beautiful tribute to ‘Ole Umm Kulthum’ and ‘A… dios’ (sic). This is an album whose gentle charm speaks volumes.