Farid El Atrache
Nagham Fi Hayati
★★★★
WEWANTSOUNDS. DL/LP
Egyptian singer and oud stylist’s 1974 soundtrack. Loved by Brian Eno.
By the ’70s, romantically fleet-of-foot Syrian-born singer and actor El Atrache had a string of blockbuster films and Egyptian pop hits like Lahnil Khulud, Gamil Gamal and Awel Hamsa under his belt (The Beatles sampling the latter on Revolution 9). Issued in his final year as the soundtrack to Henry Barakat’s film, Nagham Fi Hayati finds his yearning croon interweaving with dramatic strings on Alachan Malich Gheirak and clattering drums and psyched-out organ on Hebina Hebina. His lengthy songs are distinguished by their discreet melodic approach (motifs repeated in different orchestral combinations) and intimate breakdowns, textural sleights of hand that imperceptibly tug at the emotions. Its unexpected jewel is an unedited version of Takassim Oud, an unbeatable live oud masterclass from El Atrache’s flying fingers.