Sweet Release

‘These strings, this drum, from another world they come, bringing songs of sweet release,’ Adams sings over a thunderous Rachid Taha-like riff on the opening title-track. It sets the tone for this superb follow-up to Still Moving, which saw Adams & Durante win in the Best Fusion category at the 2022 Songlines Music Awards. The spontaneity of that earlier release is here more fully developed but without losing its raw energy as Middle Eastern and Maghreb rhythms swirl intoxicatingly with Italian taranta and pizzica motifs and a dose of desert blues. Durante drives the beat with his mighty frame drum, adds some wondrously wild violin playing on ‘Ithaca Return’ and sings affectingly on ‘Qui Non Vorrei Morire’. Adams’ expressive singing has clearly been influenced by his time playing guitar behind Robert Plant, and guest vocalists include Yousra Mansour from Bab L’ Bluz on Fairuz’ sainted ‘Wa Habibi’. One didn’t imagine they could top Still Moving – but they’ve gone and done it.