A Lantern and a Bell by Loney dear out today
A Lantern and a Bell is the eighth studio album by Emil Svanängen, a.k.a. Loney dear.
Fri, 26 March 21
Riz Ahmed samples Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on new album ‘The Long Goodbye’
Riz Ahmed, the British actor, rapper and activist, has just released his second solo album, which features a sample of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 'Allah Hoo Allah Hoo' in the opening track, 'The Breakup (Shikwa)'.
Known for roles in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and award-winning HBO series The Night Of, Ahmed’s new album The Long Goodbye is a turbulent exploration of identity and belonging. On ‘The Break Up (Shikwa)’, he uses a romantic relationship as a detailed extended metaphor for life in post-Brexit Britain.
The sample of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the opening track of the album is lifted from a live WOMAD recording of ‘Allah Hoo Allah Hoo’. Nusrat and the qawwal ‘Ali Ali Dam Ali Ali’ are also mentioned on the track ‘Can I Live’.
Taking cues from Sufi devotional music and poetry, Ahmed explains that he wanted to hold up a mirror to the rising tide of division in the land he calls home.
“It’s a breakup album, but with your country. I wanted to make something that lets people into the feeling of this heartbreak, the anger, the denial, the acceptance, the realisation, self-esteem and self-love.“
The Long Goodbye is out now on Mongrel Records, and is accompanied by a short film of the same name.
Featured release
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Released 23 July 2019
A remarkable record of a magical event that changed the perception of Sufi music to a wider audience and set Nusrat on a path to international recognition of his genius. The power and beauty of Nusrat’s voice comes rushing back through the years and lifts us up to the ecstatic heights of Sufi expression.
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Further reading
M’berra by Khalab & M’berra Ensemble out today
M'berra is a collaboration between electronic artist Khalab and musicians from M'berra refugee camp.
Fri, 23 April 21
Alternative Valentines: 22 Love songs from across the world
A an eclectic collection of love songs taken from the Real World Records catalogue.
Sat, 13 February 21
Track of the day: ‘Oppenheimer’ by Loney dear
Loney dear's latest single was inspired by the American theoretical physicist, J.R. Oppenheimer.
Fri, 05 March 21