ANOUAR BRAHEM – Souvenance (2014) 2xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The music of Souvenance, by turns graceful, hypnotic, and taut and starkly dramatic, was recorded in 2014 – six years after oud-master Anouar Brahem’s last ECM album, “The Astounding Eyes of Rita”. “It took a long time to write this music,” he acknowledges, noting that his emotional world had been usurped by the unfolding story of political upheaval sweeping first through Tunisia then through the neighbouring countries. Extraordinary waves of change, accompanied by great hopes and fears. “I don’t claim a direct link between my compositions and the events taking place in Tunisia,” says Anouar, “but I have been profoundly influenced by them.” New directions for the music find Francois Couturier returning to the Brahem group, frequently supported by subtle string orchestration. The strings have a glowing transparency and fragility in these pieces, often providing shimmering texture against which the contributions of the quartet members - and, above all, Anouar Brahem’s unique oud-playing - stand out in bold relief. This double album was recorded at the Lugano studio in May 2014, and produced by Manfred Eicher. www.ecmrecords.com
TRACKLIST 1
1, IMPROBABLE DAY 12:41
(Anouar Brahem)
2. ASHEN SKY 7:36
(Anouar Brahem)
3. DELIVERANCE 5:07
(Anouar Brahem)
4. SOUVENANCE 9:16
(Anouar Brahem)
5. TUNIS AT DAWN 6:42
(Anouar Brahem)
6. YOUSSEF'S SONG 10:23
(Anouar Brahem)
TRACKLIST 2
1. JANUARY 7:19
(Anouar Brahem)
2. LIKE A DREAM 9:40
(Anouar Brahem)
3. ON THE ROAD 7:59
(Anouar Brahem)
4. KASSERINE 9:35
(Anouar Brahem)
5. NOUVELLE VAGUE 2:40
(Anouar Brahem)
Credits:
Arranged By – Tõnu Kõrvits (tracks: 2-5)
Arranged By [Arrangements For Orchestra By] – Anouar Brahem (tracks: 1-1 to 2-4), Johannes Berauer (tracks: 1-1 to 2-4)
Bass – Björn Meyer
Bass Clarinet – Klaus Gesing
Conductor [Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana] – Pietro Mianiti
Mixed By – Anouar Brahem, Manfred Eicher, Michael Rast, Stefano Amerio
Oud, Music By – Anouar Brahem
Orchestra – Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana
Piano – François Couturier
Producer – Manfred Eicher