专辑简介

Ghosts and Shadows depicts a period of exploration and discovery for principal writer / guitar-player Raed El-Khazen. The facts of being an Arab playing a Western instrument and a musician exploring the art of expression in sound through improvisation, led El-Khazen on a journey driven by a desire to escape the status quo and cliches, and find an organic way to blend the two lives and cultures he was privileged to experience. The 7 original mantra-like pieces defy conventional boundaries and stand alone in their interpretation of form, resisting obvious placement in any style. They are best described as visual sonic explorations, emotional and timeless, showcasing Raed El-Khazen’s versatility as a conceptual artist, writer, and guitar player.

Longtime friend and colleague producer/bassist Derek Nievergelt recorded the album in Beirut, Lebanon to capture the cultural rooting of the music itself. He also played bass and synths on the recordings. Musicians Walid Sadek (trumpet), Tarek Khuluki (Tanjaret Daghet, synths), Dani Shukri (Tanjaret Daghet, drums), joined Raed El-Khazen over 3 days of live recording.

"My main concern going into the studio was not the notes we played but the place we played them from. I wanted to capture the emotions of completely letting go and experiencing sound as a form of energy not an esthetic. The preparation was different for me: hanging with the band and experiencing different aspects of the music for an extended time period, not allowing ourselves to improvise while we prepared the melodies and grooves; giving ourselves the time to get the vibe and sound in the studio the way we wanted it.. I think all these small details allowed us to come closer to our initial vision. Of course we are dealing with an untamable beast so "nailing it" can always be something we look forward to reaching one day.”