Anour Brahem
After the Last Sky
(ECM)
★★★★★

Anouar Brahem is a Tunisian-born composer and oud player who has released a number of experimental, classical and jazz influenced albums for the ECM label, dating back to 1989.

His latest is an evocative work, set against the backdrop of the current war in Gaza, its title is taken from a line of verse by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, which questions: “Where should the birds fly, after the last sky?”

Graceful, nuanced pieces for oud, cello, piano and bass subtly address deep metaphysical questions. For the album Brahem is joined by double bassist Dave Holland, pianist Django Bates and cellist Anja Lechner, all part of the Brahem international quartet.

The album leads with a two-minute work called Remembering Hind, written in memory of a young victim of the war. Slow mournful cello leads into winding melodic piano lines, then in unison a balanced harmonic counter point. Next up the title track, a quicker tempo and a wise composition with Brahem’s oud leading, it’s earthly poetic tones delicately played. Piano and double bass join prior to cello taking centre stage, all designed to take the listener inward to some sort of state of reflection on the war.

Endless Wandering has a sense of wonder, and further slow reflection, with bass lines that brood and slide taking the lead role, then solo cello lines, depicting further dream-like states. Throughout the tracks, a curious mix of eastern promise, religious calling and European classical guitar, jazz fusion influences abound. In some parts even, flamenco meets Philip Glass in moments of upbeat optimism.

It concludes with a track is called Vague, a gentle buoyancy led by piano, the piece inspired by the sound of the lapping waters of the eastern Mediterranean.

The collaborative nature of the quartet, along with their political concerns, is a central focus to all the work. As the composer states: “We are all tributaries of the inspiration of the moment and that goes for all musicians. It’s the magic of the moment that counts along with the preparation. It’s all a question of collective inspiration.”

The sound is crisp and clear with a warm glow in the low frequencies. Produced by Manfred Eicher, the album was recorded in May 2024 at the Auditoria Stelio Molo RSI Lugano, the studio’s rich acoustic aiding the sonic approach.

An evocative album that will please ECM’s worldwide fan base.