Quest

Although dwelling in Berlin, the Out of Nations six-piece soon discovered that each of them had passports for different countries, including Germany, Belgium, Greece, Egypt and the US. Reedswoman and ensemble founder Lety Elnaggar was born in Philadelphia to Mexican-Egyptian parents, then lived in New York City, Beirut, Cairo and Berlin, meeting players on the way and subsequently collaborating with producer Khalil Chahine. Out of Nations' musical emphasis is on North Africa and the Middle East, filtered through a jazz sensibility, as oud (lute), ney (flute) and Arabic percussion meld with guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. Elnaggar plays various saxophones, clarinets and flutes, contributing strong solos from a broad palette; she ranges from softly spoken tenor to stabbing soprano section parts.

Some of the tunes have an orchestral synth-sweep, with ‘KurdMajor’ being an Arabic jazz fusion featuring a fuzzed-up guitar solo. Elsewhere, there are flamenco, funk and reggae elements, with the mellower tracks questionably placed as openers. There are several guests, including electro-chaabi keyboardist Islam Chipsy and singer Dina El Wedidi on two of the best cuts, which oddly arrive near the album's end. The former has full-on rattling percussion with blaring reed-flute, fretless bass wobble, big beats and bending synth; the latter offers the most hardcore Egyptian aura, with an oud solo and staccato horn sounds.