Donal Dineen’s Sunken Treasure: ‘Le Voyage de Sahar’ by Anouar Brahem

The 19th century writer Muhammad Shihab al-Din said that it “places the temperament in equilibrium” and “calms and revives hearts.”

I know this to be true. The music of Anouar Brahem has been a refuge I’ve had recourse to for many years. From 1991 to 2015, he has released 10 records of sublime quality on the ECM label. His commitment to exploring the limits of the oud’s sonic capabilities has lead him on a journey like no other in music.

Each chapter has involved various configurations of accompanying instrumentation. His collaborators on these exploratory voyages have included improvisational heavyweights such as Jan Garbarek, Dave Holland and John Surman.

Le Voyage de Sahar is unique in that it's the only time he has recorded with the same trio a second time. In essence, it's a follow-up piece to Le Pas du Chat Noir with French pianist Francois Coutourier and accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier the accompanists.

The albums were recorded four years apart but listened to together they are inseparable in mood, texture and ambience. The music takes a natural course through indeterminate territory. It drifts along effortlessly at a measured and unruffled pace.

Amidst the virtuosity is a lack of contrivance that makes it highly accessible. Succumbing is easy. Its openness invites the listener to dive into this river of sound and drift along to the hypnotic flow. Sweet dreams are made of this.