Ayouha Al-Taiin Fi Al-Mawt

Beirut's free-rock post-folk sextet SANAM release their debut album Aykathani Malakon (An Angel Woke Me) on June 23 via Mais Um.

SANAM's music is a ritual where improvised rock, free jazz and noise underscore an exorcism of traditional Egyptian song and Arabic poetry, as Sandy Chamoun (vocals), Antonio Hajj (bass), Farah Kaddour (buzuk), Anthony Sahyoun (guitar, synth), Pascal Semerdjian (drums) and Marwan Tohme (guitars) bring their myriad of influences gleaned from years performing either solo or as members of influential acts in Beirut's tight-knit independent music scene (such as Al Rahel al Kabir, Postcards, Kinematik and Ovid).

Sanam's debut single shares a name with the Paul Chaoul poem "Ayouha Al-Taiin Fi Al-Mawt" which Sandy Chamoun recites in a state of ascending ecstasy over a loose motorik groove propelled by scattershot drums and undulating guitar as throbbing bass and buzuk bleed in to help push Sandy's pleading vocal into a chaotic climax until the music subsides and Sandy's voice eventually fades out.

SANAM formed following an invitation to perform with Hans Joachim Irmler from the legendary German experimental group Faust, at Beirut's Irtijal music festival in 2022. The musicians had planned to reiterate their fortuitous experience with Irmler but when this plan fell through, they decided to go on a recording residency together instead in a traditional house in the village of Saqi Reshmaya, Lebanon. The recording of the album took place during a particularly difficult time in their native country of Lebanon, which continues to suffer from an unprecedented economic collapse as well as social and political unrest. "We decided to take eight days off in May 2022 in an effort to completely disconnect ourselves from Beirut" says Sahyoun, who also performs in post-rock outfit Kinematik. During their residency, the musicians, who come from distinct musical styles and backgrounds, decided to record the full album live with no overdubs echoing the improvisational nature of their encounter with Irmler.