Release date: March 28, 2025
Anouar Brahem is back with a fresh sonic journey, and this time, he’s taking a different route. The Tunisian oud master, known for his evocative and deeply atmospheric compositions, trades in the rhythmic drive of drums for something more intimate and haunting on his latest release. Returning from Blue Maqams (2017) are ECM heavyweights Dave Holland and Django Bates. Still, instead of a drummer rounding out the quartet, Brahem brings in the soulful cello of Anja Lechner. The result is a rich, melancholic sound that feels both spacious and deeply personal.
Brahem composed these pieces in 2023, but by the time he stepped into the studio, the crisis in Gaza weighed heavily on his mind. Even without that context now underscored by a rare, in-depth essay on Gaza by Adam Shatz included with the album there’s an unmistakable sense of loss running through the music. The titles alone speak volumes. After the Last Sky takes its name from Edward Said’s book on Palestine, itself inspired by Mahmoud Darwish’s haunting question: “Where should the birds fly, after the last sky?” It’s a fitting reflection of the album’s deeply contemplative mood.
The album opens with Remembering Hind, a delicate duet dedicated to a victim of the Gaza war setting the tone for a record steeped in reflection and sorrow. The title track leans into a jazz-inflected space, flowing seamlessly into Endless Wandering, both pieces carrying a similar weight of longing and introspection. Never Forget stands out as particularly mournful, with Brahem’s searching improvisations weaving through moments of raw emotion. The interplay between the bowed bass, cello, and oud moving in unison creates a deeply resonant melody, while Django Bates’ piano notes drift in softly, like falling tears.
Brahem approaches this ensemble with a light touch, never seeking to dominate but instead crafting pieces that give each musician space to breathe. The compositions act as frameworks rather than strict roadmaps, allowing the quartet to move fluidly within them. Moments of collaboration emerge organically partnerships form, blossom briefly, and then dissolve, making way for new conversations. It’s a delicate balance of structure and freedom, where each player’s voice feels essential to the whole.
Manfred Eicher’s signature touch is all over this recording, bringing out every nuance with his impeccable production. Recorded at ECM’s stunning studio space in Lugano, Switzerland, the sound is as rich and immersive as the music itself. The spacious, almost sacred quality of the mix only deepens the album’s somber majesty, letting every note resonate with quiet intensity.
