Jarak Qaribak | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 9 June 2023 | |||
Genre | Middle Eastern music [1] | |||
Length | 39:44 | |||
Label | World Circuit | |||
Producer | Dudu Tassa, Jonny Greenwood | |||
Dudu Tassa chronology | ||||
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Jonny Greenwood chronology | ||||
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Singles from Jarak Qaribak | ||||
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Jarak Qaribak ("Your neighbour is your friend") [2] is an album by the Israeli musician Dudu Tassa and the English guitarist Jonny Greenwood, released on 9 June 2023 by World Circuit. It was produced by Tassa and Greenwood and mixed by Nigel Godrich, the longtime producer of Greenwood's band Radiohead. The album comprises reworkings of love songs from across the Middle East, featuring vocalists from countries including Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Tunisia. [3] [1]
Greenwood first heard Tassa's music on a trip to Israel with Radiohead in the early 2000s. [4] He contributed to Tassa's 2009 album Basof Mitraglim Le'Hakol, and Tassa opened for Greenwood's band Radiohead on their 2017 tour. [2]
Jarak Qaribak was recorded in studios in Tel Aviv, Oxfordshire, and across the Middle East. [3] "Taq ou-Dub", a Lebanese song, was the first recorded. [5] Tassa said that the music "sounds 1970s", but with drum machines and Arabic lyrics, which he liked to imagine would confuse listeners. [6] Greenwood said his process involved "trying to imagine what Kraftwerk would have done if they'd been in Cairo in the 1970s". [6] He denied any intent to make a political point with the album, and said: "I do understand that as soon as you do anything in that part of the world it becomes political ... possibly especially if it's artistic." [7]
Jarak Qaribak was released on 9 June 2023 by World Circuit. It was announced on 13 April, along with the release of the lead single, "Ashufak Shay", which features vocals from the Lebanese singer Rashid Al Najjar. [2] On 27 April, Tassa and Greenwood released a live video for "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala", featuring Iraqi vocalist Karrar Alsaadi. [8] The second single, "Taq ou-Dub", featuring the Palestinian singer Nour Freteikh, was released on 18 May 2023 with a live video filmed at the Hamam in Tel Aviv. [5] [9] A tour was canceled following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. [10]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Guardian | [1] |
The Irish Times | [11] |
Mojo | [12] |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10 [13] |
Uncut | 8/10 [3] |
XS Noize | [14] |
The Herald Scotland's Michael Bedigan called Jarak Qaribak a "truly intriguing musical collection". [15] The Guardian wrote that its arrangements "uplift the essence of their originals ... highlighting how its longing melodies can be reapplied into new voices, transmitting similar emotions through unusual settings". [1]
Publication | # | Ref. |
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Der Spiegel | — | [16] |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Djit Nishrab" (featuring Ahmed Doma) | Ahmed Wahby | 6:25 |
2. | "Ashufak Shay" (featuring Rashid Al Najjar) | Mehad Hamad | 3:21 |
3. | "Taq ou-Dub" (featuring Nour Freteikh) |
| 3:37 |
4. | "Leylet Hub" (featuring Mohssine Salaheddine) |
| 4:41 |
5. | "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala" (featuring Karrar Alsaadi) |
| 3:54 |
6. | "Ahibak" (featuring Safae Essafi) |
| 4:57 |
7. | "Ya 'Anid Ya Yaba" (featuring Lynn A.) | Traditional | 3:39 |
8. | "Lhla Yzid Ikthar" |
| 4:43 |
9. | "Jan al-Galb Salik" (featuring Noamane Chaari & Zaineb Elouati) |
| 4:23 |
Total length: | 39:44 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums ( OCC) [17] | 70 |
UK Albums Sales Chart ( OCC) [18] | 34 |
UK Independent Albums ( OCC) [19] | 13 |
US Current Album Sales ( Billboard) [20] | 68 |