View From Somewhere

Politically, Sudan has had its fair share of unrest, leaving most with the impression that there is no more to it than war, famine and crisis. It is easy to forget that it is also a country rich with musical traditions. Amira Kheir's debut album tries to rectify this oversight. The album includes music inspired by ancient Nubian bridal songs, Sufi devotional praise and Sudanese storytelling. Though it's rooted in various musical traditions from Sudan, it is not an album of Sudanese traditional music. Kheir takes advantage of her multi-faceted musical background – having lived in Sudan, Italy and London – and creates a distinctive jazz-infused style. Supporting Kheir is a group of eclectic musicians that represent four different continents and throw a dramatic range of instruments into the mix, including djembé, oud, kora, frame drum, alto sax and double bass, to name just a few.

The lyrics, mostly sung in Arabic, are bold and poetic and speak to difficult subjects. ‘Disposable World, the best track on the album, is harsh and sarcastic: ‘throw them [people] away/cause it don't matter/ watch them starve/while you get fatter. While it may take a few listens to really get into and it is not an album you'll walk away humming, it is both beautiful and fearless.