Erbil

The Syrian singer Omar Souleyman’s fifth studio album, Erbil, is filled with the celebration of life through music. Souleyman performs with his ever-inventive keyboard player Hasan Jamo, electronically recreating the timbres of a traditional Arabic ensemble of wind, bowed and plucked instruments and percussion, but with a vibrancy and an irresistible rhythmic drive. Souleyman’s roots as a wedding singer keep everything grounded in his eight joyful songs, such as ‘Ma Andi Gherak Mahbuub’. He is complemented but never overpowered by Hasan Jamo, who converses between the various ‘voices’ and detailed sampling in his instrumental fills, creating a film-like drama. Just when you think the energy level couldn’t get higher, ‘Maet Ala Shoftha’ powers in, even more turbo-charged. In Erbil, Souleyman pays homage to Erbil in Iraq, which welcomed him and provided inspiration for his new path in music-making.