- A bold display of hybrid dance music that showcases Egypt's growing appetite for sprawling mutations of hard dance and otherworldly sound design.
- Experimental club music from non-Western countries is often branded as futuristic, but many consider that a lazy narrative. "According to the Western mindset, a 'new' or an unheard or unseen thing in Asia, Africa, or the Arab region is perceived or imposed as the future and the reason is that many perceive it as an alien coming from a different dimension," Cairo-based producer ABADIR pointed out in a recent interview. The "future" label is often "forced on artists whose concepts and music are not even future-based," he continued, noting that "there must be more factors determining what is new rather than tying it to the future."
The latest compilation from Cairo label irsh, which features ABADIR, feels new because of its shape-shifting nature. Whether fast or slow, many of its tracks glide across genres, marrying a variety of textures with avant-garde theatrics. Established in 2020 by ZULI and Rama, the young platform focuses on Egyptian talent through its compilation series, did you mean: irish. The latest instalment, which also invites artists from neighbouring Lebanon and Palestine, is split between ethereal sound design experiments and straightforward yet adventurous dance music.
ZULI and Rama understand that there's more to deconstructed club music than industrial-flecked techno and jarring noise so, high-BPM cuts aside, there's also grime and dark ambient. did you mean: irish vol. 2 is a thrill-seeking journey that reaffirms Egypt's growing appetite for strange and surreal sounds—one of the most encouraging signs of a healthy music scene.
Cairo crowds now "seem more receptive to even the weirder side of the music we play," ZULI and Rama recently told Resident Advisor over e-mail. "We get to play out more often and when we do, we don't need to adapt or make any type of sacrifices to cater to the crowd," they continued. "Interest has been growing so you get more of everything—more club nights that can sound slightly different from each other, a wider pool of DJs to pick from for lineups, and genuine fans who love the music so much they bring their friends to the party and convert them."
By "weirder side of the music," the duo are likely referring to tracks on the compilation like "Kabbut," which features three of Cairo's most accomplished names—ABADIR, ZULI and 3Phaz—working together. Pairing sped-up, glitched-out vocals with abstract drum patterns, it traverses hard club and grime. As compelling as the "weirder" offerings are, the compilation's functional dance cuts are the most appealing. Balancing indulgent experimentation with linear arrangements, they keep listeners second-guessing until the last second. "Faster," in particular, is a highlight. Folding in jungle, '90s trance elements and Daft Punk-esque vocals, Ismael somehow manages to make these twisty, kinetic movements sound gentle. "Null" by Assyouti, a newcomer to the Cairo scene, is mad techno-jungle that jumps across tempos, laden with bass whomps, breaks and whistles. "Siteh," featuring Palestinian MC dakn, is the compilation's most conventional track. Rooted in grime, the sharp Arabic bars finely cut through Yaseen's broken drums and ghostly effects.
The compilation's biggest strength is its range, and there are plenty of cinematic numbers to balance out the ferocious sonics. On "Granulosis," skittery drums, gong-like chimes and glitchy spasms tread a tightrope that connects the realms of spooky ambient and tribal rhythms. On a similarly sinister tip, El Kontessa chops up traditional music into fragmented loops alongside eerie synths, manipulated effects and slo-mo breakdowns. "8918," meanwhile, resembles a drafty wind tunnel as arrhythmic synths and flashes of white noise burst into micro-particles. Postdrone (an exciting hip-hop producer to look out for) also takes a molecular-level approach to "3H3D," his deep dive into a dreamstate. A slo-mo downtempo number, it conjures up scenes of nature time-lapses, in which transitions are punctuated by sounds of water droplets.
If I had to pick a word to describe did you mean: irish vol. 2, it would be hybridity. Both its slower and harder-hitting tracks teem with diverse and often familiar influences that, when combined, create something that feels brand new. This hybrid approach—i.e. a creative use of nostalgia, established genres and experimentation—shows that innovation is alive and thriving in Cairo's experimental club scene. As ZULI and Rama said, the coming years are "both exciting and promising."
Tracklist01. Yaseen – Siteh feat. Dakn
02. Ismael – Faster
03. ABADIR – Kabbut feat. ZULI & 3Phaz
04. Ashrar – Granulosis
05. 1127 – 8919
06. Assyouti – Null
07. Islam Elnabawi – Mashy
08. Liliane Chlela – Swordfish
09. El Kontessa – Aloe Vera
10. Qow – Keteer
11. Seleem – monster2killed
12. Postdrone – 3H3D
13. 0N4B – Cybernetic Emptiness
14. ltfll – IY11