Author: Nigel Williamson
View album and artist detailsArtist/band: |
Omar Souleyman |
Label: |
Ribbon Music |
Magazine Review Date: |
Jan/Feb/2014 |
It’s something of a mystery why Souleyman, a 47-year-old wedding singer from northern Syria, has become a phenomenon in Western rock circles. Championed by Björk and Damon Albarn, he’s appeared at Glastonbury and his Syrian cassette recordings have been reissued by the vogueish Sublime Frequencies label. Now he’s teamed up with British techno producer Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) on an album recorded in New York that’s getting rave reviews in the rock press. Souleyman boasts a wonderfully rugged baritone voice and his music – composed by long-time collaborator Rizan Sa’id – is rooted deep in the rhythms of Arabic dabke folk dance and influenced by the urban beats of Egyptian chaabi. But his songs, in both Arabic and Kurdish, are standard, crowd-pleasing wedding fare and anyone looking for any insights into the upheavals in Syria, which have forced him into exile in Turkey, will be disappointed. Hebden adds thumping techno beats, stronger on heft than subtlety, and some sizzling electronic flourishes to the traditional Arabic instrumentation. The frantic energy is often thrilling and the studio whizz bangs add a dynamic that’s been skilfully crafted to be more accessible to Western ears. But much as his cult status among the rock cognoscenti is gratifying, it remains puzzling why he in particular has been singled out for such honours.
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