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Opening number Allal's loose clatter-and-thrum offers a spaciously-applied glimpse of things to come. Percussive effects from John Thorne (also of Psychic Enemies Network) build The Fqih (0:45) into short-lived stage for Jeff Kreis' Arabic pluckings. David Chapman's trumpet riffs embody a "wandering cabellero"-style persona which meanders an informal pathway to Istikhara accompanied by light strums and thudding drums. Slurry balilaika riffs and ethnobeats rush alongside the
The Waters of Izli where trumpet tones are smeared into gauzey-then-glaring streams.
A seemingly sedated drummer lays down a slow-motion rhythm for the boozy trumpet which tells The Story of Lahcen and Idir.
An open mike picks up coughs, mumbles and other room noise as hypnotic
Abhilash Talkies (12:15) entwines light rhythmic patter with moody, low strings and occasional muted brass interjections.
Perhaps the liveliest atmospheres are found in Naxos where now-familiar players seem somewhat elevated. Finishing what its predecessor started, The Fqih (slight return) closes the disc with steady rat-a-tatting, flavorful jangles and sinuous brass ripples.
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