– THE QUIET RIOT –

Ibrahim Maalouf is a hard man to keep up with. Perennially recording and releasing music – be it scores for films, live albums or eclectic collaborations – it can be difficult to adjust one’s filter to syphon off what is truly Ibrahim Maalouf.

Where he’s at his best, of course, is on his solo studio LPs and at last, four years since the scintillating Red and Black Light, we have such a release in the album S3NS.

The title track is the undoubted heart of an LP that mostly explores South American and Cuban rhythms and tempos.

Sure, there’s a slight melodic resemblance to Keep Me Hanging On early on but the French-Lebanese trumpeter’s inimitable style means the song really sounds like no-one else.

Throughout, the tone is warm and uplifting and, while never quite reaching a climax, it does enjoy a gentle swell; like a rising tide, it’s enough to lift all around it but done so in a way that’s almost imperceptible.

The album S3NS was released today through Mister Ibe.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

BROOKLYN FUNK ESSENTIALS: FUNK AIN’T OVA
FREDDIE GIBBS AND MADLIB: GIANNIS
JHENÉ AIKO: TRIGGER PROTECTION MANTRA
KARL HECTOR AND THE MALCOUNS: ORANGE MAN

P.S. You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –