Anouar Brahem - Le Pas Du Chat Noir

Hypnotic, magnetic new album by Anouar Brahem which adds a new dimension to our knowledge of this exceptional Tunisian musician. 'Le pas du chat noir' gives the clearest indication yet of the work of Brahem as composer and features a spacious 'chamber music' that resonates with the freshness of improvisation. The instrumentation is unique: oud, piano, accordion. Brahem's writing for this combination is highly evocative, meticulously controlled and sparse. Half of the magic, as he notes, resides in the not-played, in the marvellous mingling of overtones, sounds that rise from the piano to blend with the warm tones of the oud and the breath of the accordion's bellows.

Songlines Top of the World (Editor's choice)

Le pas du chat noir by Anouar Brahem is a complete delight: 70 minutes of intricately dappled, Debussy-like settings for a Maghreb chamber-trio of oud, piano and accordion. And if the light is falling just right, it can make your listening room feel like a Matisse interior. - Phil Johnson, The Independent

Personnel: Anouar Brahem (oud), Fran�ois Couturier (piano), Jean-Louis Matinier (accordion)