After two mixtapes focused on soul, funk and rock music, I am excited to return to ambient, experimental and electronic sounds. If you’ve been tagging along for a while, you’re probably aware of my affinity for these genres.
The July mixtape feels like going on an open-ended journey without a map. It’s unhurried, wandering, observant, unpredictable and adventurous. Melodies unravel slowly, soundscapes shift gradually, and textures dissolve into echoes and frequencies in captivating ways.
This one is particularly close to my heart. It includes tracks by several artists from back home (SANAM, Yara Asmar, Charbel Haber, Fadi Tabbal, Munma) who have been shaping the tight-knit Lebanese experimental scene with boundary-pushing sounds, often rooted in the harsh and unprecedented realities of the country’s social, political and economic landscape.
The mixtape also features two dear friends (aheich and Tendertwin), both of whom recently released their debut EP, and two stunning new tracks by all-time favorites Abul Mogard and Drew McDowall.
Special mention goes to the opening track ‘Streets and River’ by AM 4.
I hope you enjoy this compilation. It’s hauntingly beautiful and profoundly reflective. To appreciate it fully, an uninterrupted active session is recommended.
This month's prompt: What is in the way of what you want?
Happy listening,
Choucri
