Here Tunisian oud player Anouar Brahem is in a trio setting with Francois Couturier (piano) and Jean-Louis Matinier (accordion). It's a set-up that serves him very well, and the blend of the North African and European is very pleasant to listen to.
But it's a lot more than a cliched "meeting of cultures" or traditional album. It works on its own terms - Brahem introduces contemporary guitar styles in his playing, and there's even some keith Jarrett-style spontaneous singalongs (obviously by order of the ECM management).
The mood is peaceful; the French, Italian and Spanish titles of the pieces generally suggest land or sea scapes - calm ones as nature intended. But this is not a single paced offering, and your attention is sustained by the trio's subtle nuances. The absence of a rhythm section heightens the instrumental and harmonic power.
It's not "world music" as we would conventionally understand the term, as it's not tied to a specific place, time or musical history. It is floating and timeless - beyond world music.
And it's a very good stress-reliever.
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