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Beginning in an exotic haze, then shifting gears into a more contemporary groove, Dance of My Soul is backed by jazzily honking sax, droning synth and steadily pattering ethnic percussion. Soft electric guitar and flavorful drumming open My Restless Heart (4:09) where an enchanting pop structure is overlain with serpentine vocal wails and slithering/squawking violin. Buoyant bass riffs and a strangely not-out-of-place banjo give Dust to Dust a "small-world"ly feel, as Shafqat croons with feeling.
World-ballad Ashina rides in on delicately flowing piano passages, to be joined by ethno-syncopation, synth and velvety tones. Sweet harmonies and twinkling guitar runs are found in the Valley of Memories, the only track not featuring the keyboards/programming of producer/co-writer Douglas McKeehan.
The Pakastani equivalent of a down-and-dirty blues/noir burner, Stolen Dreams are sought by loose bass thrums, cinematic strings, moody keyboard arrangements and plaintive words.
Sleeping World (9:50) takes an appropriately gentle pace, slowly unfolding with an intricate piano interlude. Stay, My Love crosses a line into a cloying pop-funkiness which, while expertly executed, doesn't encourage me to stay.
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