Safar: Les Âmes Retrouvées

The Syrian oud player and singer Waed Bouhassoun grew up in the culturally rich Jebel Druze region, just over the mountain from the birthplace of Arab music superstar, Farid al-Atrash. As one of the most distinguished graduates of the late-lamented Damascus Conservatoire, she has been an exceptional musical ambassador for her country, and Safar only serves to cement this reputation.

The mood of her third release – which includes both traditional songs from southern Syria and her own settings of poetry – is thoughtfully sombre but never desolate; perfectly capturing the cultivated melancholy of Oriental music. On half the tracks, she is joined by other musicians, playing ney (flute), saz (long-necked lute) and percussion, which lend some variety to the sound but can break the spell woven by Bouhassoun's graceful touch on the oud. While it's hard not to sense a wistful longing in her voice, it seems significant that no mention is made in the booklet about the current situation in Syria. Nevertheless, like a single candle glowing in the window, the serene beauty of Safar stands as a potent symbol of hope in the darkness.