Highway To Hassake
(Sublime Frequencies) Used 2xLP $24.00
The first Western release by this Syrian cultural phenom, compiled from cassettes recorded between 1996 and 2006. Souleyman’s rich, flexible voice has bite in the frantic numbers (mostly in dabke style, typical Syrian party music) and a lot of soul in ataba songs (a mournful style). The band includes oud players Hamid Souleyman and Ali Shakir, and keyboardist Rizan Sa'id, whose lightning-fast solos can put Rick Wakeman to shame. Sealed