Review Summary: A soundtrack for torrid summer night parties.
One thing is for certain when you play an Acid Arab record and that is how immersive their sonic universe turns out to be. Their trademark blend of Middle East, North African and Turkish influences, together with techno, EDM, as well as acid house is truly charismatic. You can find various similar acts, however, the diversity of the French-Algerian collective makes them stand out. This latest affair,
Resonance, follows the excellent
Trois, offering a brand new collection of club bangers assisted by multiple guests. Right from the first listen, a fair number of tunes stand out, such as “Goulou Marhaba”, which uses a cool, swinging kick, backed by Arabic oud leads and sing-along choruses. It is a perfect mood setter for the entire album. “Ktafi Bardine” follows, mixing traditional percussion elements over mid-tempo dance beats, complete with Cheba Ibtissem’s urgent vocals. As we reach deeper into the LP, we can find multiple house numbers with more intense arrangements. The mesmerizing instrumental “Sada’a” boasts a psychedelic vibe through its looped samples, whereas “Atlas” reaches back to the ‘90s in its minimalistic structure. Meanwhile, “Zid Mazzika” comes across as an Ibiza outdoor summer party starter, similar to “Yasmine Alsham” and its infectious vocals and bass line. Moreover, “Yaktın Beni”, whose hazy groove and trance-like bass ambient pads share this late night club atmosphere, continued on the closing cut, “La Nada”, too. Feeling like a slow comedown, the low end heavy rhythm contrasts the busy keyboard leads. Nevertheless, it is a perfect moment to end
Resonance. Acid Arab put emphasis on the fun factor and the whole record delivers. Despite its seamless flow, the 70-minute length might detract a bit from the overall impact on the listener. Unless you are already into this Middle Eastern-type sound, it will take a few spins to fully grasp the group’s fourth full-length.
