Jarak Qaribak

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.

Jarak Qaribak
Studio album by
Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood
Released9 June 2023
GenreMiddle Eastern music[1]
Length39:44
LabelWorld Circuit
ProducerDudu Tassa, Jonny Greenwood
Dudu Tassa chronology
שמש וענן
(2023)		 Jarak Qaribak
(2023)
Jonny Greenwood chronology
Licorice Pizza (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2021)		 Jarak Qaribak
(2023)
Singles from Jarak Qaribak
  1. "Ashufak Shay"
    Released: 13 April 2023
  2. "Taq ou-Dub"
    Released: 18 May 2023

The album comprises reworkings of love songs from across the Middle East, featuring vocalists from countries including Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Tunisia.[2][1]

Background and recording

Greenwood first heard Tassa's music on a trip to Israel with Radiohead in the early 2000s.[3] He contributed to Tassa's 2009 album Basof Mitraglim Le'Hakol, and Tassa opened for Greenwood's band Radiohead on their 2017 tour.[4]

Jarak Qaribak was recorded in studios in Tel Aviv, Oxfordshire, and across the Middle East.[2] "Taq ou-Dub", a Lebanese song, was the first recorded.[5] 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".[6] The album title translates to "Your neighbour is your friend".[4]

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.[4] On 27 April, the duo released a live performance video for "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala", featuring Iraqi vocalist Karrar Alsaadi.[7] 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.[5][8]

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.[9]

Reception
Jarak Qaribak ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[1]
The Irish Times[10]
Mojo[11]
Pitchfork7.7/10[12]
Uncut8/10[2]
XS Noize[13]

The Herald Scotland's Michael Bedigan called Jarak Qaribak a "truly intriguing musical collection".[14] 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".[1]

Track listing
Jarak Qaribak track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Djit Nishrab" (featuring Ahmed Doma)Ahmed Wahby6:25
2."Ashufak Shay" (featuring Rashid Al Najjar)Mehad Hamad3:21
3."Taq ou-Dub" (featuring Nour Freteikh)
  • Maroon Nasser
  • Mohamad Mohsen
3:37
4."Leylet Hub" (featuring Mohssine Salaheddine)
4:41
5."Ya Mughir al-Ghazala" (featuring Karrar Alsaadi)
  • Abdallah Alsahel
  • Mohamad Alkukbani
3:54
6."Ahibak" (featuring Safae Essafi)
  • Daoud Akram
  • Naim Rajuan
4:57
7."Ya 'Anid Ya Yaba" (featuring Lynn A.)Traditional3:39
8."Lhla Yzid Ikthar"
  • Abd Al-Wahab Dukali
  • Abdel Rahman Alami
4:43
9."Jan al-Galb Salik" (featuring Noamane Chaari & Zaineb Elouati)
4:23
Total length:39:44

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)

Charts
Weekly chart performance for Jarak Qaribak
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 70
UK Albums Sales Chart (OCC)[16] 34
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17] 13
US Current Album Sales (Billboard)[18] 68

References
  1. Kalia, Ammar (26 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak review – engaging reworkings of love songs from across the Middle East". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  2. Pinnock, Tom (July 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood - Jarak Qaribak". Uncut. p. 31. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. Geiger, Amy (13 April 2023). "Jonny Greenwood & Dudu Tassa announce collab LP, share "Ashufak Shay" feat. Rashid al-Najjar". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. Strauss, Matthew (13 April 2023). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Announces New Album with Dudu Tassa, Shares Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. Brodsky, Rachel (18 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood – "Taq ou-Dub"". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  6. Brodsky, Rachel (13 April 2023). "Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood – "Ashufak Shay" (featuring Rashid al-Najjar)". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  7. Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (27 April 2023). "Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa Share New "Ya Mughir al-Ghazala" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  8. Pappis, Konstantinos (18 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood Share New Single "Taq ou-Dub"". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  9. "Pitchfork London Announces First Wave of Artists: Yaeji, Sleater-Kinney, Helado Negro, and More". Pitchfork. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. Kane, Siobhán (9 June 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak – Verve and vision, full of gems". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  11. Sheppard, David (11 May 2023). "Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood - Jarak Qaribak". Mojo. p. 86. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  12. Howe, Brian (12 June 2023). "Dudu Tassa / Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  13. Gava, Lori (9 June 2023). "Album Review: Duda Tassa and Johnny Greenwood – Jarak Qaribak". XS Noize. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  14. Bedigan, Michael (7 June 2023). "This week's best new album releases". The Herald Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  15. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  16. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  17. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  18. "Jonny Greenwood Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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