Various Artists – Acid Arab Collections

Inspired by the proliferation of Arab music and culture in their native Paris, Acid Arab put together a collection of experimental tracks drawing infectious and immediate parallels between the linear, building progressions of acid, and the hypnotic, repetition-driven crescendoes of Arabic music, both modern and traditional. The result is a rich tapestry of old and new, analogue and digital.

Highlights include the retro-futuristic synths and reeling Sufi drums of New Jersey's Professor Genius on Couronne; the FlyLo-esque, pitch-bent-gnawa funk of Pilooski's The Wizzard Edit; Omar Souleyman's Shift Al Mani turned into a tweaked, 303-driven acid banger by Crackboy; I:Cube's psychedelic house workout; and Acid Arab's own, field recording-driven, pulsating acid anthem, Berberian Wedding. There's nary a dull moment on this inspired, varied, unique collection – very far from imperialist notions of 'world' music, Acid Arab offer up complex and unique take on Parisian underground electronics, and a corner of the musical map too-often ignored. [Bram E. Gieben]