Hadouk Quartet: Hadoukly Yours

Expanding to a to a quartet through the addition of Eric Lohrer, who has contributed guitar to a previous piece by this band, Hadouk Quartet continue to wander down a path marked equally through the sounds of Jazz and Middle Eastern ambience; almost going as far as to ask the question where does one end and the other begin. Factor in along the way the integration of Jean-Luc Di Fraya on drums – replacing the departing Steve Sheehan – and the confidence displayed on this album is something to behold.

Focused meandering sounds like a contradiction in terms but in essence that's where Hadouk want to stridently take you, a mixture of gumbass, lapsteel, doudouk and banjo adding new airs to drums and guitars. Along the way, one time Gong member Didier Malherbe, for it is he who leads Hadouk, infuses flute into already dreamy, yet never sleepy compositions, a strange ability to sound vital and sharp revealed the more relaxed the vibe becomes.

Fraya is a wonderful addition to the band, his deft, busy, unobtrusive percussion a real feature of what Hadouk Quartet are attempting to achieve. His rim shots and cymbal work punctuating proceedings with splashes, dashes and crashes of colour. Loy Ehrlich employs Hajouj and even Yayli Tanbur to introduce ever changing textures to the mix, the foursome combining right across Hadoukly Yours with an effortless ease. Still for all this album avoids any accusations of self indulgence, there's no denying that it will test the patience of anyone who is looking for anything immediately ear catching, or for any true surprises to give them a shock.

If you're looking for an album to take you on a gentle, Middle Eastern journey through Jazz, then Hadouk Quartet are an outfit you will simply need to hear. Others however and even those with leanings towards Jazz may well find things ever so slightly uneventful. Once you get over that stumbling block, there is much to enjoy.

Track Listing
1. Chappak
2. Ayur
3. Bora bollo
4. Bora Bollo
5. Shadow Maker
6. Bawu Call
7. Chaloupe De Chameau
8. Rouge Bambou
9. Danse Des Lutins
10. Bittersweet Lullaby
11. Suite Cabaline 1
12. Suite Cabaline 2
13. Blueberry Hill

Added: June 29th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Hadouk Quartet online
Hits: 2135
Language: english

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