Grateful to Rosie Esther Solomon
@thebechdelbitch (The Wire), Daniel Spicer
@danieljamesspicer (Songlines), John Parry (Backseat Mafia), and Joseph E. Keyes (Bandcamp) for reviewing Callings Of The Owed by Egyptian duo Mi3raj
@mi3rajmusic , released by Ruptured
@rupturedthelabel on cassette earlier this year.
“Moussa’s voice tumbles over the notes, evoking both longing and delirium in equal measure. It’s tempting to reference early Dead Can Dance, but that would almost be getting it backward; the musical modes on display here are the basis for Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard’s work.”
Essential Releases
@bandcamp
“Shaat’s skulking and shadowy production renders the pieces universal - ghostly tales of displacement and unease that transcend language. At times, Moussa’s vocals sound stretched to breaking point, even as the accompanying track rattles along below, a persistent and uncaring presence when stacked against a desperate vocal.”
@thewiremagazine
“These stories told from the tangle of their home city Cairo resonate to the struggles between tradition, change, loss, love, power and destruction.”
@backseat_mafia
“The texts are rich and full of mystery, brought to life by Moussa’s dramatic delivery, using multiple overdubs to suggest a Babel of voices: at once pleading, declamatory and ritualistic.
Shaat’s accompanying sounds provide a dark backdrop, evoking the underbelly of a city at night. It’s a sultry, cinematic thrill.”
@songlinesmagazine
Few copies of the cassette are still available from our Bandcamp page > link in bio
