"Working as a visual artist and sound designer, Geitani is well versed in creating imaginative soundscapes for films such as 2024 sci-fi Radius Collapse, as well as referencing the shadowy nocturnal hiss of producers such as Burial on his dabke-sampling 2018 debut album Al Roujoou Ilal Qamar. On Wahj, he harnesses soaring layali vocalisations, reverb-laden drums and analogue synths to leave a cinematic impression."
"Opener Hal sets a plaintive tone with a yearning cello solo from Nia Ralinova and Geitani's melismatic vocals meandering over the slow, thrumming notes of a synthesiser. Its gentle mood is soon shattered, however, by the thundering drums and doomy synths of following numbers Ya Sah and La, the blast beat cacophony of Tuyoor and the industrial techno distortions of Fawqa al Ghaym."
Toni Geitani, Beirut-born and Amsterdam-based composer, blends Arabic maqam melodies with granular electronic sound design, rumbling bass and metallic drum programming. He pairs layali vocalisations, reverb-laden drums and analogue synths to create cinematic, tension-filled soundscapes. Opener 'Hal' features a yearning cello solo and melismatic vocals over slow synthesiser notes, while tracks such as 'Ya Sah', 'La' and 'Tuyoor' introduce thundering drums, blast-beat cacophony and industrial techno distortions. 'Ruwaydan Ruwaydan' juxtaposes jazz swing with a beat switch and piercing ney flute, and 'Madda Mudadda' shifts from calm ambience into crushing static and whispered melody, maintaining uneasy, dark momentum throughout.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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