Following three acclaimed albums, a string of sought-after 45s, and collaborations with vocalists including Yurika and Sophia Solompon, championed by esteemed tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, and Jeremy Sole, ‘Nadir’ finds Sababa 5 at their enigmatic and irresistible.Sababa 5’s latest album, ‘Nadir’, delves into a darker, more sophisticated, and cinematic fusion of psychedelic soul and Middle Eastern rock. The title, Nadir, is an astronomical term referring to the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, diametrically opposite the zenith. Metaphorically, it signifies the lowest point or a moment of adversity. This duality resonates with the band’s exploration of contrasting musical themes—melding the cosmic and the terrestrial, the ethereal and the grounded.The name encapsulates the album’s essence, reflecting a journey through deep, introspective soundscapes that are both otherworldly and rooted in raw, earthly grooves.‘Nadir’ opens with “VU” – close to four minutes of mysterious, darkly seductive, rhythm-driven funk. Swirling guitars, an Arabesque electric organ, and raga-like drones evoke the haze of a smoky Cairo bar, while the track nods to their close musical kin, vuvuvu, whose raw, noisy, and playful energy has rubbed off on the band.The title track itself conjures the sultry ambiance of a Mediterranean night, plunging listeners into a realm of intrigue and intensity. A brooding bassline sets a suspenseful tone before a synth-led melody, laced with Italian motifs and Middle Eastern tonalities, unfoldsrecalling the cinematic flair of soundtrack legends like Piero Umiliani and Stelvio Cipriani. Subtle wah-wah guitar accents add a psychedelic touch, echoing the acid rock elements of classic Poliziotteschi scores.However, not all tracks dwell in darkness; “Tell” sports a brighter tone reminiscent of ‘Aspan’. Leaning into Turkish ballad territory – except with synths taking the lead part – it is both melodic and melancholic, buoyed by an irresistible groove that offers a refreshing counterpoint to the album’s shadowy moods.A must list album for fans of The Heliocentrics, Khruangbin, The Dap Kings, and Moğollar.Nadir stands as Sababa 5’s most compelling and listenable offering yet – a transcontinental journey where hypnotic grooves, cinematic arrangements, and evocative Middle Eastern scales create vivid imagery, compel movement, and touch the soul.
