modulare synthesizer treffen auf marokkanische gnawa-tradition. begnadete kollaboration zwischen dem britischen synth-wizard james holden, berüchtigt für seine offenheit gegenüber neuen, nie betretenen wegen und soundexperimenten, und maalem houssam guinia, sohn der verstorbenen gnawa-legende und holden-kollaborateurs maalem mahmoud guinia. drei live aufgenommene world music-tracks mit nordafrikanischen gesängen, aufgenommen 2016 in london. limitierte auflage.

limited pressing on red marbled vinyl.

regular pressing on black vinyl.

after years of playing with the moroccan community of brussels, music maker and jazz musician luc mishalle knows every trick of the cross-fertilization of gnawa music, jazz & brass. gnawa is the northern african islamic sufi music with healing vibrations and spiritual lyrics, played by the descendants of african slaves. the album title “beats & pieces” refers to the collaborations with belgian percussionist roel poriau (think of one, antwerp gipsy-ska orkestra), tunisian electronic producer sofyann ben youssef (ammar808, kel assouf) and moroccan-belgian gnawa master maalem driss filali.

gnawa is a uniquely moroccan sound with roots in islam and links to a healing ritual called lila (arabic for night). from this heritage comes innov gnawa, the only new york-based gnawa group made from moroccan natives, led by the mâalem (master) hassan ben jaafer. in 2016, pique-nique recordings presented their debut ep together and, since then, the band have also featured on bambro koyo ganda from bonobo s latest album. aicha is their much anticipated follow-up. alongside the joyous call and response between the maalem and the group that s common in gnawa, there are also hints of electronic programming interspersed between the traditional live instrumentation no doubt an influence of nicolas jaar collaborator dave harrington who produced the ep.

180g, hand stamped, individually numbered records, single press only.