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Jarak Qaribak

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Jarak Qaribak
A photo of the two artists in white t-shirts in the bottom-right corner of a green field, with the album's name written at the top in both English and Arabic, and the artist's names written the same in the bottom-right.
Studio album by
Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood
Released9 June 2023
GenreMiddle Eastern music[1]
Length39:44
LabelWorld Circuit
ProducerDudu Tassa, Jonny Greenwood
Dudu Tassa chronology
שמש וענן
(2023) 		Jarak Qaribak
(2023)
Jonny Greenwood chronology
Licorice Pizza
(2021) 		Jarak Qaribak
(2023)
Singles from Jarak Qaribak
  1. "Ashufak Shay"
    Released: 13 April 2023
  2. "Taq ou-Dub"
    Released: 18 May 2023

Jarak Qaribak ("Your neighbour is your friend")[2] is an album by the Israeli musician Dudu Tassa and the English guitarist Jonny Greenwood, released on 9 June 2023 by World Circuit. It was produced by Tassa and Greenwood and mixed by Nigel Godrich, the longtime producer of Greenwood's band Radiohead. The album comprises reworkings of Middle Eastern love songs, with vocalists from countries including Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Tunisia.[3][1]

Background and recording

[edit]

Greenwood first heard Tassa's music on a trip to Israel with his band Radiohead in the early 2000s.[4] He contributed to Tassa's 2009 album Basof Mitraglim Le'Hakol, and Tassa opened for Radiohead on their 2017 tour.[2]

Jarak Qaribak was recorded in studios in Tel Aviv, Oxfordshire, and across the Middle East.[3] "Taq ou-Dub", a Lebanese song, was the first recorded.[5] Tassa said that the music "sounds 1970s", but with drum machines and Arabic lyrics, which he liked to imagine would confuse listeners.[6] Greenwood said his process involved "trying to imagine what Kraftwerk would have done if they'd been in Cairo in the 1970s".[6] He denied any intent to make a political point with the album, and said: "I do understand that as soon as you do anything in that part of the world it becomes political ... possibly especially if it's artistic."[7]

Release

[edit]

Jarak Qaribak was released on 9 June 2023 by World Circuit. It was announced on 13 April, along with the release of the lead single, "Ashufak Shay", which features vocals from the Lebanese singer Rashid Al Najjar.[2] On 27 April, Tassa and Greenwood released a live video for "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala", featuring the Iraqi vocalist Karrar Alsaadi.[8] The second single, "Taq ou-Dub", featuring the Palestinian singer Nour Freteikh, was released on 18 May, with a live video filmed at the Hamam in Tel Aviv.[5][9]

Live

[edit]

A European tour for Jarak Qaribak was canceled following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[10] On May 26, 2024, Greenwood and Tassa performed at the Barby Club in Tel Aviv, a day after Greenwood appeared at a protest against the Israeli government.[11][12] The performance was criticised by pro-Palestine activists; the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel called for "peaceful, creative pressure on his band Radiohead to convincingly distance itself from this blatant complicity in the crime of crimes, or face grassroots measures".[11] On June 4, Greenwood responded to the criticism and wrote in a statement that Israeli artists should not be silenced.[13] He described the project as a group of Middle Eastern musicians "working together across borders", and made no mention of Israel's war efforts.[14]

Reception

[edit]
Jarak Qaribak ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[1]
The Irish Times[15]
Mojo[16]
Pitchfork7.7/10[17]
Uncut8/10[3]
XS Noize[18]

The Herald Scotland's Michael Bedigan called Jarak Qaribak a "truly intriguing musical collection".[19] The Guardian wrote that its arrangements "uplift the essence of their originals ... highlighting how its longing melodies can be reapplied into new voices, transmitting similar emotions through unusual settings".[1] Der Spiegel named Jarak Qaribak one of the best albums of 2023.[20]

Track listing

[edit]
Jarak Qaribak track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Djit Nishrab" (featuring Ahmed Doma)Ahmed Wahby6:25
2."Ashufak Shay" (featuring Rashid Al Najjar)Mehad Hamad3:21
3."Taq ou-Dub" (featuring Nour Freteikh)
  • Maroon Nasser
  • Mohamad Mohsen
3:37
4."Leylet Hub" (featuring Mohssine Salaheddine)
4:41
5."Ya Mughir al-Ghazala" (featuring Karrar Alsaadi)
  • Abdallah Alsahel
  • Mohamad Alkukbani
3:54
6."Ahibak" (featuring Safae Essafi)
  • Daoud Akram
  • Naim Rajuan
4:57
7."Ya 'Anid Ya Yaba" (featuring Lynn A.)Traditional3:39
8."Lhla Yzid Ikthar"
  • Abd Al-Wahab Dukali
  • Abdel Rahman Alami
4:43
9."Jan al-Galb Salik" (featuring Noamane Chaari & Zaineb Elouati)
4:23
Total length:39:44

Personnel

[edit]
  • Jonny Greenwood – producer, guitar, bass, synthesisers, electronics
  • Dudu Tassa – producer, guitar, bass, vocals
  • Nigel Godrich – mixing
  • Ahmed Doma – vocals (1)
  • Rashid Al Najjar – vocals (2)
  • Nour Freteikh – vocals (3)
  • Mohsinne Salaheddine – vocals (4)
  • Karrar Alsaadi – vocals (5)
  • Safae Essafi – vocals (6)
  • Lynn A. – vocals (7)
  • Noamane Chaari – vocals (9)
  • Zaineb Elouati – vocals (9)

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance for Jarak Qaribak
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] 70
UK Albums Sales Chart (OCC)[22] 34
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] 13
US Current Album Sales (Billboard)[24] 68

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Kalia, Ammar (26 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak review – engaging reworkings of love songs from across the Middle East". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Strauss, Matthew (13 April 2023). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Announces New Album with Dudu Tassa, Shares Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Pinnock, Tom (July 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood - Jarak Qaribak". Uncut. p. 31. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  4. ^ Geiger, Amy (13 April 2023). "Jonny Greenwood & Dudu Tassa announce collab LP, share "Ashufak Shay" feat. Rashid al-Najjar". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Brodsky, Rachel (18 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood – "Taq ou-Dub"". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Brodsky, Rachel (13 April 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood – "Ashufak Shay" (featuring Rashid al-Najjar)". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  7. ^ Taysom, Joe (13 April 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood announce debut album". Far Out. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  8. ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (27 April 2023). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa Share New "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  9. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (18 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood Share New Single "Taq ou-Dub"". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. ^ DeVille, Chris (31 May 2024). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Performs in Tel Aviv, Reportedly Attends Protest Against Israeli Government". Stereogum. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b Wilkes, Emma (31 May 2024). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood plays show in Israel, reportedly protests for hostage deal and elections". NME. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  12. ^ Brinn, David (29 May 2024). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood performs in Tel Aviv, demonstrates for hostage release". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  13. ^ Wilkes, Emma (4 June 2024). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood speaks out against 'silencing Israeli artists for being born Jewish in Israel' while defending current project". NME. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  14. ^ DeVille, Chris (4 June 2024). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood shares statement on his involvement with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa". Stereogum. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  15. ^ Kane, Siobhán (9 June 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak – Verve and vision, full of gems". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  16. ^ Sheppard, David (11 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood - Jarak Qaribak". Mojo. p. 86. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  17. ^ Howe, Brian (12 June 2023). "Dudu Tassa / Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  18. ^ Gava, Lori (9 June 2023). "Album Review: Duda Tassa and Johnny Greenwood – Jarak Qaribak". XS Noize. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  19. ^ Bedigan, Michael (7 June 2023). "This week's best new album releases". The Herald Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  20. ^ Borcholte, Andreas (29 November 2023). "Abgehört 2023: Das ist die beste Musik des Jahres" [Listened 2023: This is the best music of the year]. Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Jonny Greenwood Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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