Resonance/Dissonance – رنين أقل

Resonance/Dissonance
Nawa Recordings (NAWA001)
Released 6 June 2011

Distribution
UK & Europe: Cargo Records UK
Arab World: Eka3

Press enquiries: press@nawarecordings.com

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Reviews:

” [Khyam Allami] epitomises the best of the new generation of oud players whose roots lie in the Eastern tradition but who also judiciously draw on a wider range of contemporary influences… his compositions are utterly bewitching.”
5/5 – Songlines – Top of the World

“With its constant changes of mood and direction, Khyam Allami’s debut album is a firm reminder of the oud’s potential.”
3/5 – The Guardian

“With An Apex, its most avant-garde track, at its centre… Using traditional Arabic scales, Allami shows how innovative the music can be.”
4/5 – Evening Standard

“Attractive, fluently played and deserves to find its listeners.”
The Wire Magazine

“From its deep and very deliberately plucked opening notes to the final extended fade on Reverie, this is not only a vibrant and engaging piece of music, but a work of surprising maturity.”
fRoots Magazine

“While the music conforms to Arab classical forms, its pensive, minimal contemporary feel could do for the oud what Rodrigo y Gabriela have done for the Spanish guitar.”
4/5 – The Telegraph

“Though this is Khyam’s debut album, he did not treat it as such. It is bold and ambitious. Risky for a first release, it was a risk worth taking. Khyam’s solo oud weaves poetic melodies, at times dark and soulful. Joined by percussionist Vasilis Sarikis, Khyam pieces together an album that is meaningful and intense.”
- Nomad’s Playlist

“The presentation of Resonance-Dissonance gives absolutely nothing away, meaning-wise; however the overwhelming darkness of this music says it all.”
- The Liminal

CREDITS
Audio mastered by Mark Cawthra
DVD filmed and edited by Eclectic Films
Still photography by Hydar Dewachi

About Khyam Allami – Resonance/Dissonance
It’s not often that you stumble on a musician at the start of his career who’s biography is as intriguing as Khyam Allami’s. Since taking up the ‘ūd (or Oud, Middle Eastern Lute) in 2004, he has already generated a “palpable buzz” about him and “left a trail of unforgettable live performances in his wake” according to the UK’s fRoots Magazine who recently put him on their cover.

Whether at small independent venues, Birmingham’s alternative/experimental Supersonic festival, WOMAD or the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Khyam is yet to falter in making his audience revel in the lucid beauty of his music.

Born to Iraqi parents in Damascus, Syria and raised in London from the age of 9, Khyam could easily be seen as a musical schizophrenic. His passion for music has lead him on a journey from child violinist in Damascus via rock drummer in London to two Music degrees from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) and on to become a world class Oud player, composer and highly sensitive musician.

Listen to the Resonance/Dissonance album preview:

In 2010 Khyam was the first recipient of the BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy mentorship programme which saw him perform at WOMAD UK and the BBC Proms. After much press attention, high profile concerts and various live and recorded collaborations with artists varying from Seattle WA based Master Musicians of Bukkake to Iraqi pop singer Ilham al-Madfa’i, Khyam turned his attention to his own vision.

His debut solo ‘ūd album, Resonance/Dissonance (released on his own label Nawa Recordings), is a rare and ambitious effort. It is a double-disc featuring a solo studio recording on the CD and a live performance of the entire album (accompanied by percussionist Vasilis Sarikis) on the DVD.

Watch the Resonance/Dissonance DVD Preview

Resonance/Dissonance is a complete work, a whole. Musically, it is based on the concept of Maqam (the modal system of Middle Eastern music), seemingly stark and simple yet overtly complex.

Unusual approaches to the Maqams combine with original, highly structured and detailed “composed-improvisations”. Recurring themes and melodic shapes render a cohesive narrative, accented by a sensitive dynamic and rhythmic outbursts using unusual rhythmic cycles. All of which intertwine around complete compositions and a dark rendition of the traditional Iraqi Maqam Nawa.

Conceptually, it is filtered through a life in London influenced by myriad figures; the work of C.G. Jung, the mysticism of Jorge Luis Borges, the independence and forward thinking of Frank Zappa, and Secret Chiefs 3, the ingenuity of various masters of Middle Eastern music such as Hossein Ali Zadeh, Naseer Shamma and Riyadh al-Sunbati.

Mystical in its lucidity and abstract in its poetry, Resonance/Dissonance is unique, soulful, beautiful, dark, heavy and hopeful all at once.

Track Listing
Disc 1 – Audio CD

1. Individuation
2. Naghmat Tahrir
3. Tawazon I: Balance
4. An Alif/An Apex
5. Tawazon II: or Lack of
6. The Descent (Maqam Nawa)
7. Reverie

Total time: 50’51″

Disc 2 – DVD
Live performance of the entire album
(accompanied by percussionist Vasilis Sarikis)

1. Individuation
2. Naghmat Tahrir
3. Tawazon I: Balance
4. An Alif/An Apex
5. Tawazon II: or Lack of
6. The Descent (Maqam Nawa)
7. Reverie
+ Bonus Photo gallery with outtakes improvisation not on CD!

DVD specifications:
Region Free, PAL Video, Stereo Audio, Colour, Total Running Time 52mins

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Distributed by Cargo Records UK
Press enquiries: Nina Finnerud nina[at]cargorecords.co.uk
Booking and all other enquiries: info[at]nawarecordings.com

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