Nuun

Albaitil Ashwai's members, who include Qais Raja (vocals and guitar), Feras Arrabi (lead guitar) and Qased Ihsan (accordion), have collaborated in one incarnation or another since 2012. Their name means ‘Random House’, alluding to the freedom of expression exhibited in this boldly eclectic mix of psychedelic rock, reggae, grunge, Arabic melody and dance, complementing the Sufi-inspired sentiments and declarations of rebellion against the sociopolitical order. It's music that will divide opinion. Some listeners may regard it as turning clichés (of Sufi sound, for example) on their head. In ‘Kujeen’, a musical carpet of hard rock is juxtaposed with a meditative text articulating a journey towards spiritual integrity. Other listeners may find an emotionally heightened and ecstatic Sufism precisely through such percussive high-octane passages. But across the album, the instruments can excessively dominate and perhaps obscure the message. The text of ‘Kusoof,’ for example, depicts a rather complex posture of supplication after the sun's eclipse but the guitar solo, albeit intoxicating, sidelines it. However, the first track, ‘Al Sama’a’, is a gently lyrical and, coincidentally, almost wordless affair suggesting a blissful and leisurely trip. Best of all is ‘Ya Aleem’, a breathtaking guitar theme-plus-variations that rounds off this fresh and addictive contribution to current Arab musical culture.