- As a young Tunisian, Deena Abdelwahed probably has a lot to say. She saw her home country undergo a revolution that initiated seismic political activity across the Middle East. As a resident of Toulouse (Tunisia is a former French colony), she's linked with an international electronic club underground that would be tougher to access from Tunisia. Klabb, her debut EP, has influences from her home country but it feels more aligned with the hard-edged style you might hear at a European club night like Janus.
"Jalel Brick Rrumi"'s title is a portmanteau of the names of the Tunisian activist Jalel Brick and the famed 13th century Persian poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (known to English speakers as Rumi). Abdelwahed uses vocal samples of the former to gesture towards the latter. Brick's voice in Arabic sounds agitated, matching a squealing, metallic loop and restless footwork-inspired percussion. While it's a clear political statement and a call to action, the other three tracks may be more successful because of their less militant atmosphere. All three feel bouncy with an unusual sense of funk. "Ena Essbab"—written for the queer community—stands out with its mellifluous vocals, which are treated to create intersex, inter-human references.
Tracklist01. Jalel Brick Rrumi
02. Walk On, Nothing To See Here
03. Ena Essbab
04. Klabb V2