Jarak Qaribak

This is more than just a meeting of two rock stars – one the lead guitarist of Radiohead, the other an Israeli sensation and grandson of the famous Daoud Al-Kuwaiti. Jarak Qaribak brings together a host of musicians from across the Middle East for a very special collaboration. Translating as ‘Your Neighbour is Your Friend’, at first glance this album might look like a cliché that aims to bring the world together through the power of song and perhaps a fizzy drink. In reality, this is an excellent showcase of some of the Arab world's best voices and it's simply the nature of working with artists from across a tense geopolitical region that makes what is just an album of classic love songs feel like a statement.

The nine songs here are taken from across the Middle East and each guest singer was asked to take a tune from a country other than their own. This means we get Egypt's Ahmen Doma singing the opening ‘Djit Nishrab’ by Algerian Ahmed Wahby, the Jordanian song ‘Ya ‘Anid Ya Yaba’ sung by Syrian Lynn A and the Israeli song ‘Ahibak’ covered by Safae Essafi from Dubai. And yet, somehow, the whole project feels cohesive; every song courts a nostalgic retro feel while still sounding fresh.