Ghareeb Fe Watani: Hosam Hayek

Label: Doublemoon

A denizen of the Nazareth region, Hayek transforms the music of the Middle East with a hint of European and Western influences. Ghareeb Fe Watani, which is Arabic for “Stranger In My Homeland”, is composed mainly of classical and folk songs – instrumental takes on the sounds of North Africa, Central Asia and the Mediterranean. Hayek makes excellent use of traditional and contemporary instruments like the oud (a lute-like instrument), electronic piano, clarinet, kanun (a stringed instrument similar to the zither found in some European countries), baglama (also lute-like), cello, violin, harp, bass, and varied percussion instruments. No single track stands out—because they are all good.

Liner notes are in English and Turkish.