Review from JazzTrail (by Filipe Freitas):
As a pivotal figure in the world-jazz music sphere, oud player Anouar Brahem has been warming our hearts throughout the years with albums such as Barzakh (1991), Thimar (1998), Le Voyage de Sahar (2006), and Blue Maqams (2017), among others. His latest work, After the Last Sky, takes its title from the words of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and is deeply inspired by the harrowing experiences of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Rather than guiding listeners toward a specific message, Brahem seeks to evoke raw emotion, a goal he achieves with the support of three distinguished European musicians. While bassist Dave Holland is a familiar collaborator, pianist Django Bates returns after Blue Maqams, but the novelty here is cellist Anja Lechner, who infuses the music with extra poignancy and depth.
"Remembering Hind", a piano-cello duet, unfolds like a slow-blooming sonata, paying homage to a young victim of the war. Bates and Lechner also share the melodic journey of "Edward Said's Reverie", a tribute to the American-Palestinian academic and political activist in the title.
The title track, "After the Last Sky" opens with the plaintive voice of the oud, its melancholy tones soon interweaving with the piano. In its last segment, Holland subtly establishes a groove with lyrical intonation, while Lechner enriches the classical Arabic tradition with her improvisational freedom. "Endless Wandering" is spiritual, elegant, and haunting, showcasing warmly dissonant oud harmonies and bowed bass in the form of sustained pedals.
With its scintillating textures, "Awake" begins in 7/4, traversing key changes and shifting modal directions with ease. "In the Shade of Your Eyes" is a striking oud-cello duet, enriched by microtonal inflections and dark, reedy bowing. Meanwhile, "The Eternal Olive Tree" is an improvised bass-oud effort imbued with a sinuous, dancing quality that highlights the deep musical rapport between Brahem and Holland.
A surprising tango influence emerges in "Dancing Under the Meteorites", a modern composition nourished by Holland's sturdy bass foundation, while "Vague", an older Brahem piece, blends echoes of Erik Satie with Arabic laments, striking a pillowy, oddly emotional note. It's easy to find delight in Brahem's poignant narratives and sounds. His unique musical perspective triggers thoughtful responses from his peers, who help the music brim with soul.
https://jazztrail.net/blog/anouar-brahem-after-the-last-sky-album-review
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Resena de JazzTrail (por Filipe Freitas):
Como figura clave en el ambito del world-jazz, el oudista Anouar Brahem ha calentado nuestros corazones a lo largo de los anos con albumes como Barzakh (1991), Thimar (1998), Le Voyage de Sahar (2006) y Blue Maqams (2017), entre otros. Su ultimo trabajo, After the Last Sky, toma su titulo de las palabras del poeta palestino Mahmoud Darwish y esta profundamente inspirado en las experiencias desgarradoras del pueblo palestino en Gaza. En lugar de guiar a los oyentes hacia un mensaje especifico, Brahem busca evocar emocion pura, un objetivo que logra con el apoyo de tres distinguidos musicos europeos. Mientras que el bajista Dave Holland es un colaborador habitual, el pianista Django Bates regresa tras Blue Maqams, pero la novedad aqui es la violonchelista Anja Lechner, quien infunde a la musica una profundidad y conmocion adicionales.
"Remembering Hind", un duo de piano y violonchelo, se despliega como una sonata de florecimiento lento, en homenaje a una joven victima de la guerra. Bates y Lechner tambien comparten el recorrido melodico de "Edward Said's Reverie", un tributo al academico y activista politico estadounidense-palestino mencionado en el titulo.
El tema titular, "After the Last Sky", abre con la voz quejumbrosa del oud, cuyos tonos melancolicos pronto se entrelazan con el piano. En su segmento final, Holland establece sutilmente un groove con entonacion lirica, mientras Lechner enriquece la tradicion clasica arabe con su libertad improvisatoria. "Endless Wandering" es espiritual, elegante y embrujador, mostrando armonias de oud calidamente disonantes y un bajo con arco en forma de pedales sostenidos.
Con sus texturas centelleantes, "Awake" comienza en compas de 7/4, atravesando cambios de tonalidad y direcciones modales cambiantes con facilidad. "In the Shade of Your Eyes" es un sorprendente duo de oud y violonchelo, enriquecido con inflexiones microtonales y un arco oscuro y aterciopelado. Mientras tanto, "The Eternal Olive Tree" es un esfuerzo improvisado de bajo y oud impregnado de una cualidad sinuosa y danzante que destaca la profunda complicidad musical entre Brahem y Holland.
Una sorprendente influencia de tango emerge en "Dancing Under the Meteorites", una composicion moderna nutrida por la solida base de bajo de Holland, mientras que "Vague", una pieza mas antigua de Brahem, mezcla ecos de Erik Satie con lamentos arabes, marcando una nota aterciopelada y extranamente emotiva. Es facil encontrar deleite en las narrativas y sonidos conmovedores de Brahem. Su perspectiva musical unica desencadena respuestas reflexivas en sus companeros, quienes ayudan a que la musica rebose de alma.
https://jazztrail.net/blog/anouar-brahem-after-the-last-sky-album-review
