Tags: Middle Eastern

Review: 'Only Love Remains' is Yemen Blues' boldest album to date and one that marks a departure from their previous releases. Created from finished compositions by vocalist Ravid Kahalani, the band spent two weeks in the studio with minimal ideas and simply allowed creativity to flow. The result is a powerful fusion of each member's unique cultural influences co-produced by bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz. The album blends direct emotional connection with spiritual depth and so offers both enlightenment and questioning. Amid global political and cultural polarisation, Yemen Blues leads by example and makes for an inclusive celebration of unity and love through music.

Review: Lebanese singer Pol Seif has linked with various European instrumentalists for this Molo Sayat project , which has its base camp around the Med. The band compose their material in Arabic, Italian and Romani languages and their first release on Zephyrus Records oozes a soul soothing calmness and plenty of colourful folk sounds. The musicianship is second to none as saxophone, clarinet, double bass and trumpets are all blended into one smooth and beautiful soundscape as Serf's voice adds another layer of magic. Whether jazzy and upbeat such as 'Kai Zhas Seka' or slow and mournful like 'Adame' these are all essential sounds.