Released: 01/03/24
The excellent sophomore solo album from the acclaimed Tel Aviv bassist, band leader, composer and producer Shay Hazan continues with the contemporary take on Middle Eastern and African music that made his debut, 2021’s Reclusive Rituals, such an exciting discovery. While in its intoxicating mix of Gnawa music, spiritual jazz, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and more, Wusul وصول (Arabic for ‘arrival’) is reminiscent of Kieran Hebden’s Four Tet, in the way it is often filtered through the prism of electronica, Hazan’s approach is often much organic-feeling – a direct result of many of the album’s songs taking shape and evolving through live performances.
An introspective journey through the array of musical influences that have shaped Hazan's unique sound – the result of an ethnomusicological creative process that places extensive travelling at its core – Wusul وصول transcends traditional boundaries, weaving together a rich sonic tapestry that defies easy categorisation.