An intriguing, vibrant, and captivating record...
06 · 06 · 2025
Since her debut album ‘Ahwar’ in 2017, Nadah El Shazly has been quite active. She has worked on a film score and collaborated with Elvin Brandhi to compose an opera focused on pollution. Now, she presents her second studio album, ‘Laini Tani’. In this album, El Shazly showcases everything she has learned since ‘Ahwar’. The music in ‘Laini Tani’ is her richest and most enchanting work to date — and also the most enjoyable.
‘Banit’ has the feel of an intense moment from a film score of White Lotus. Featuring quirky synths, abstract vocals, and a strong rhythm, it shifts in pace and tone beautifully from the soothing opening sounds. However, the album truly begins with ‘Enti Fi Neama’, which loosely translates to ‘You Are Blessed’ and starts with more intensity compared to the earlier laid-back tracks. While ‘Banit’ is indeed more impactful than the opening songs, it doesn’t quite match the force of ‘Enti Fi Neama’. This track stands out as the highlight and the core of the album. The sharp filigree synths remain, but are now supported by heavier beats. Beginning with a significant bass wobble, the sound quickly evolves into bursts of abstract electronics. These bursts transform into Arabic melodies and motifs, resembling what would happen if The Master Musicians of Jajouka put down their traditional instruments in favor of synths to create drone music.
This exquisite sound continues until the final third, where the frequencies soften. I would love to hear El Shazly create an entire album in this style. ‘Dafaa Robaai’ is the most pop-oriented and abstract track on the album. The bass drops are impeccable, and the chiming melodies in the background are quirky enough to catch our attention each time they appear, yet they do not distract from the rest of the music.
‘Laini Tani’ is a subtle album. It’s not one that you grasp fully after just one listen—at least, I didn’t. It’s filled with enchanting melodies, motifs, and swirling soundscapes. If you give it time, it will reward you far more than many heavily promoted albums. El Shazly possesses a delicate voice. The way she whispers in the opener ‘Elnadaha’ alone justifies the experience. El Shazly’s musical partner, Sarah Pagé, deserves recognition as well; her harp and electronic contributions form the album's backbone, arguably even overshadowing El Shazly’s vocals. Pagé’s instrumentation grounds El Shazly and provides a launchpad for her to explore intriguing directions. This is an album perfect for playing when friends are over. It won’t drown out conversations, yet it’s not just background music either. For the best experience, listen on headphones— the way the supporting tracks interact in your mind is purely delightful.
8/10
Words: Nick Roseblade
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Since her debut album 'Ahwar' in 2017, Nadah El Shazly has been quite active. She has created a film score and collaborated with Elvin Brandhi to compose an opera focused on pollution.