Get a Copy of Mohamed Assani’s “Solace”
By Deuce
It’s simply astounding what Mohamed Assani is able to put into a mere 6 minutes (almost), in his latest release “Solace”. Hell, it’s something what he’s able to fit in the first 3 minutes and some change of this piece.
The track is hard, first of all, without traditional drums. Granted, there’s some sort of hand held percussion where someone’s slapping away at something. But that doesn’t kick in until at least about halfway through and already, the tune’s got that feeling of tension, of suspense, that makes it hard without traditional drums or bass.
The main culprit for these oh so desirable feelings in music is the sitar that Assani’s getting all he can out of. It’s uncertain how he does it but he makes it sound like music that’s apt for westerns (which is more than a tad ironic for a tune primarily consisting of Eastern instruments and vocal stylings).
Remember The Usual Suspects when Redfoot’s riding up the way to meet Verbal, McManus, and the rest of the gang? High-strung, clueing you in that something’s about to happen, that it’s important, perhaps even preceding a guns-drawn affair (which surely ensued during the film)? Assani’s doing that with his sitar, which must be one of the first times in the history of history someone’s created that sense of feeling with this instrument.
Or not, depending on one’s familiarity with such sounds. What’s readily apparent, however, is that the rest of the track builds on this motion and, in certain parts, seemingly enflames it. There are mounting, rising strings that take off in parts, adding to the high noon showdown motif of the oeuvre. The percussion also aggrandizes this sentiment with a kinetic sense bordering on the frenetic to elevate the tune’s atmosphere, if you will.
Plus, you’ve got what likely are a pair of vocalists (credited to Assani and his mans Ustad Shahbaz Hussain), the former chanting in the background while the latter hits a few high notes in the foreground.
It’s not just that they’re communicating in a foreign tongue that adds to the mysterious allure of the track. It’s their personification of the uncertain, that something’s going down at the very moment you’re listening to this number, and that whatever it is, you’d better pay attention because it’s going to be significant.
This is the single Assani’s unveiled, and that’s what it does in just a few minutes.
