Jarak Qaribak ("Your neighbour is your friend") is an album by Israeli musician Dudu Tassa and English guitarist Jonny Greenwood. Released 9 June 2023 by World Circuit, it was produced by Tassa and Greenwood and mixed by Nigel Godrich, the longtime producer of Greenwood's band Radiohead.
The album comprises reworkings of love songs from across the Middle East, featuring vocalists from countries including Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Tunisia.
Background and recording
Greenwood first heard Tassa's music on a trip to Israel with Radiohead in the early 2000s. He contributed to Tassa's 2009 album Basof Mitraglim Le'Hakol, and Tassa opened for Greenwood's band Radiohead on their 2017 tour.
Jarak Qaribak was recorded in studios in Tel Aviv, Oxfordshire, and across the Middle East. "Taq ou-Dub", a Lebanese song, was the first recorded. Tassa said that the music "sounds 1970s, but there are drum machines, there are guitars but they're singing in Arabic", which he liked to imagine would confuse listeners. Greenwood said his process involved "trying to imagine what Kraftwerk would have done if they'd been in Cairo in the 1970s". The album title translates to "Your neighbour is your friend".
Release
Jarak Qaribak was released on 9 June 2023 by World Circuit. It was announced 13 April, along with the release of the lead single, "Ashufak Shay", which features vocals from the Lebanese singer Rashid Al Najjar. On 27 April, the duo released a live performance video for "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala", featuring Iraqi vocalist Karrar Alsaadi. The second single, "Taq ou-Dub" featuring Palestinian singer Nour Freteikh, was released on 18 May 2023 with a live video filmed at the Hamam in Tel Aviv.
On 24 April 2023, Pitchfork announced that Greenwood and Tassa's debut performance as a duo would take place at the Pitchfork Music Festival London in November.
Reception
The Herald Scotlands Michael Bedigan called Jarak Qaribak a "truly intriguing musical collection". The Guardian wrote that its arrangements "uplift the essence of their originals ... highlighting how its longing melodies can be reapplied into new voices, transmitting similar emotions through unusual settings".
Track listing
Personnel
Jonny Greenwood – producer, guitar, bass, synthesisers, electronics
Dudu Tassa – producer, guitar, bass, vocals
Nigel Godrich – mixing
Ahmed Doma – vocals (1) Rashid Al Najjar – vocals (2) Nour Freteikh – vocals (3) Mohsinne Salaheddine – vocals (4) Karrar Alsaadi – vocals (5) Safae Essafi – vocals (6) Lynn A. – vocals (7) Noamane Chaari – vocals (9) Zaineb Elouati – vocals (9)