ANOUAR BRAHEM - Le Pas du Chat Noir (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Oud player Brahem has established his own little niche with the instrument; his music, strongly Arab-inflected, has the spare, chamber feel that makes it a perfect fit in the ECM catalog. He's a contemplative player, and this melding with piano and accordion suits his style perfectly, as notes and ideas draw out marvelously. The interplay between musicians is as delicate as lace -- thoughtful, with everyone listening as much as playing. It's a record with many moments of great beauty, like the exquisite piano on "C'est Ailleurs" or the filigree touches between accordion and piano that decorate and nudge along many of the tracks. Brahem is a superb, if reserved, musician, as are his colleagues: Francois Couturier on piano and Jean-Louis Matinier on accordion. Together they trace something exquisite, an experience for the eras and the heart. by Chris Nickson
Tracklist:
1  Le Pas Du Chat Noir  7:51
2  De Tout Ton Cœur  7:38
3  Leila Au Pays Du Carrousel  6:33
4  Pique-nique À Nagpur  4:11
5  C'est Ailleurs  8:02
6  Toi Qui Sait  5:56
7  L'Arbre Qui Voit  6:07
8  Un Point Bleu  1:44
9  Les Ailes Du Bourak  4:52
10  Rue Du Départ  6:00
11  Leila Au Pays Du Carrousel, Var.  5:36
12  Déjà La Nuit  5:10
Credits:
Accordion – Jean-Louis Matinier
Engineer – Martin Pearson
Oud, Composed By – Anouar Brahem
Piano – François Couturier
Producer – Manfred Eicher