Al-Qasar is back with a new album and keep exploring diverse sounds from around the world. The group is currently finishing a world tour and further international dates in winter/spring 2025 will be added. Over the past two years, the band has played major festivals such as Pukkelpop, Lowlands, Reeperbahn and WOMAD.
One says there’s nothing like the original. But when the psychedelic collective tackles such a Depeche Mode classic as “Personal Jesus,” you know you’re in for a brain-melting, transcontinental journey. The lyrics are in Turkish, and the song’s iconic riffs are played on electric saz. The cast is mouth-watering, with studio wizard Thomas Attar producing, playing guitar and saz and Turkish artist Sibel on vocals.
“Promises,” the second single, is an Afro-futuristic heavy-psych track sung in Bambara which features Malian singer Mamani Keita (who played with Salif Keita) on vocals and the revered “Black Buddah,” Cheick Tidiane Seck (Gorillaz, Black Eyed Peas, Santana) on keyboards and backing vocals. On drums you’ve got Souleymane Ibrahim (from the Tuareg group Mdou Moctar) who unleashes a powerful beat.
The rest of the album is sizzling and features Swiss-Morrocan Rai rising star Sami Galbi, Sudanese singer Alsarah, Tunisian virtuoso oud player Nada Mahmoud and Sufi singer Mariam Hamrouni. Produced by Thomas Attar who also plays guitars and synths, “Uncovered” has been recorded between Tunis, Lisbon, Bamako and Paris and is enhanced by Matt Hyde’s warm and massive mix which willenthrallall the group’s fans.
