Rating: NNN
On her latest EP, New York-based multimedia artist, musician and global dance music blogger Fatima Al Qadiri deconstructs and reimagines five genres, from mainstream staples like hip-hop and dubstep to niche sub-genres juke, electro-Tropicalia and 90s-era Gregorian trance, filling each with a shimmering, ethereal ambience. As academic as it might seem (her music is part of her wider concern with re-contextualizing Eastern and Western cultural practices), the results are evocative and sometimes humorous.
Opener Hip Hop Spa lives up to its luxe title, surrounding a syrupy beat with meandering steel drum melody and serene choral voices. Vatican Vibes lightens up ominous chanting and a menacing beat with airy synths reminiscent of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s early 80s electronic work. Frantic closer Corpcore, with its feverish synth bursts and breakneck juke beat, is the EP’s most straightforward track. A blissful, intriguing collection.
Top track: Hip Hop Spa
