Echoes from a Faded Past

What do you get when you cross a Swedish guitarist, a Danish cellist and composer, a Jordanian singer, oud player and percussionist and add in effect pedals and electronic loops? The answer is a debut set of luscious atmospheric soundscapes where Arabic maqam meets Nordic folk and western baroque classicism and on which improvisation and virtuosity combine in thrilling fashion. Despite a degree in classical composition, cellist Veronika Voetmann has an eclectic track record playing in folk ensembles, pop/rock groups and even metal bands. Salomon Jakobsson is a solo acoustic guitarist of talent and taste and Yahia Alnajem has long worked with classical Arabic ensembles. Together they have combined their collective vision to record eight sombre but compelling tracks that range from the haunting classical elegance of ‘Satie on the Beach’ to the mysterious promise of the soaring ‘A Song of Praise’ which showcases Alnajem's voice to stunning effect. A triptych of wordless interludes simply numbered ‘I’, ‘II’ and ‘III’ display the trio's more experimental side while compositions with titles such as ‘Floating’ and ‘Improvisation’ are freewheeling vehicles for the unscripted but eloquent conversation between their contrasting instruments.