El Khat - Saadia Jefferson

Batov Records

£15.82

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: BTR34LP
Barcode: 5024545876819
Release Date: 23 Jun 2023
Genre: International

Saadia Jefferson is a glorious act of vandalism on Yemeni traditions led by inventor, carpenter, musician, and composer Eyal El Wahab.

Dismantling lyrics, melodies, and compositions from Yemeni folk songs, El Khat delve into uncharted sonic territory updating Yemen's ancient culture. Using an orchestra of instruments old and new, many repurposed from junk objects and turned into instruments that sound similar to traditional Arabic and North African lutes and percussion, Tel Aviv based El Khat have imagined an indelible stamp of polyphonic, harmony soaked, pan-Arabic braindance.

Hover over the tracks and you can pick out certain influences such as Omar Souleyman and dabkefolk characterised by trance-inducing chants (Wahed Mozawej), the searing Ethiopique organ of Mulatu Astatke (Ala Jina Nuhayiykum), and the unashamedly sing-along choruses of Bowie or McCartney (Balagh Al Achbaab), but the over-arching concept within Saadia Jefferson is Eyal's sense of identity, or lack of it, as a Yemeni living in Tel Aviv.

The album is the rewards of a self-imposed mission to discover Eyal El Wahab's Yemeni roots.

TRACKLISTING
A1. Ya Raiyat
A2. Ptiha
A3. Balagh Al Achbaab
A4. Ala Jina Nuhayiykum
A5. Atabina - Part II
B1. Wahed Mozawej
B2. Daasa
B3. Marhaban Ahlan
B4. Al Ard' Amamak - Part II