Aman
Warner Music (66 mins)
It’s not often that you hear music from the Comoros, and this reissue of singer and gambusi (oud-like lute) player Nawal’s second album is a treat and an opportunity not to be missed.
The album offers an insight into the historical international connections of the Indian Ocean islands – subtle influences can be heard from here and there: from Madagascar and East Africa to the Arabian peninsula and island neighbours such as La Réunion.
Originally released in 2007, Aman is Nawal’s dive into her Islamic, ‘Afro Sufi’ heritage, and Islamic themes are evident throughout, including the evocative zikr – rhythmic repetition of the name of Allah to induce trance – at the end of the piece ‘Kweli II’. It’s one of several stand-out tracks: the haunting a cappella ‘Dandzi’ stirs the soul, while on ‘Meditation’, Nawal’s guitar, mbira and bass create mystical clouds over a drone, giving an endearingly old-school world music vibe.
It’s a shame, then, that it ends in a somewhat clunky remix from the French DJ Click. With its synth sounds and four-to-the-floor beat, it really sticks out as the last track and harshes the vibe created over the rest of the album. Otherwise, this is a very worthwhile listen.