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CD
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HAB 030CD
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$16.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 5/2/2025
"Lebanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Charif Megarbane returns with Hawalat, a new album that seamlessly blends together a mix of global influences of sounds and collaborations. Hawalat builds on Megarbane's distinct ability to merge Mediterranean psychedelia, jazz, hip-hop, and orchestral elements into an evocative listening experience. Taking inspiration from hawala, a system of informal money transfers made to certain countries impacted by a lack of currency or unstable contexts. Megarbane spins this concept on its head, reimagining it as an artistic exchange spanning cultures, generations, and geographies. This spirit of creative movement is embodied in the album's amalgamative nature, featuring contributions from an international lineup of artists, including London-based jazz vocalist Sahra Gure, Italian-Tunisian singer LNDFK, Neapolitan pianist Dario Bassolino, Berlin beatmaker and violinist FloFilz, and an 18-piece orchestral arrangement by Swedish composer Sven Wunder. Recorded across multiple locations, from Beirut to Brooklyn, Stockholm to a rural French commune, the album's sonic journey mirrors its thematic premise. Musically, the track list of Hawalat travels through a varied journey of textures and temperaments. The album's opener, 'Hanadi,' is a percussive, Somali-inspired groove with wordless vocals and soaring saxophone lines. Tracks like 'Al Dollarji' and 'Al Bahriye' encapsulate Megarbane's signature Mediterranean sound, while 'Helia,' performed with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra, showcases his cinematic sensibilities. 'Jana,' an homage to the late Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, sees Megarbane transform his guitar into a kora-like instrument, staying true to his commitment to experimentation. Hawalat expands further outwards, exploring themes of diaspora, exile, and artistic migration. The album avoids nostalgic recreations of the past, instead situating itself comfortably in the present with a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. Known for his prolific output -- having released over 100 projects under various monikers -- Megarbane continues to defy categorization, crafting what he calls 'Lebrary music': a borderless, Mediterranean-rooted fusion of library music, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and jazz. His ethos of spontaneity extends to his live performances, where he and his band reinterpret songs anew with each show. In 2024, he toured extensively, often sharing the stage with fellow Habibi Funk collaborator Rogér Fakhr. Through Hawalat, Megarbane reaffirms his place as a global musical storyteller, allowing influences and traditions to cross borders and meet fluidity and spontaneity."
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LP
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HAB 030LP
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$28.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 5/2/2025
LP version. "Lebanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Charif Megarbane returns with Hawalat, a new album that seamlessly blends together a mix of global influences of sounds and collaborations. Hawalat builds on Megarbane's distinct ability to merge Mediterranean psychedelia, jazz, hip-hop, and orchestral elements into an evocative listening experience. Taking inspiration from hawala, a system of informal money transfers made to certain countries impacted by a lack of currency or unstable contexts. Megarbane spins this concept on its head, reimagining it as an artistic exchange spanning cultures, generations, and geographies. This spirit of creative movement is embodied in the album's amalgamative nature, featuring contributions from an international lineup of artists, including London-based jazz vocalist Sahra Gure, Italian-Tunisian singer LNDFK, Neapolitan pianist Dario Bassolino, Berlin beatmaker and violinist FloFilz, and an 18-piece orchestral arrangement by Swedish composer Sven Wunder. Recorded across multiple locations, from Beirut to Brooklyn, Stockholm to a rural French commune, the album's sonic journey mirrors its thematic premise. Musically, the track list of Hawalat travels through a varied journey of textures and temperaments. The album's opener, 'Hanadi,' is a percussive, Somali-inspired groove with wordless vocals and soaring saxophone lines. Tracks like 'Al Dollarji' and 'Al Bahriye' encapsulate Megarbane's signature Mediterranean sound, while 'Helia,' performed with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra, showcases his cinematic sensibilities. 'Jana,' an homage to the late Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, sees Megarbane transform his guitar into a kora-like instrument, staying true to his commitment to experimentation. Hawalat expands further outwards, exploring themes of diaspora, exile, and artistic migration. The album avoids nostalgic recreations of the past, instead situating itself comfortably in the present with a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. Known for his prolific output -- having released over 100 projects under various monikers -- Megarbane continues to defy categorization, crafting what he calls 'Lebrary music': a borderless, Mediterranean-rooted fusion of library music, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and jazz. His ethos of spontaneity extends to his live performances, where he and his band reinterpret songs anew with each show. In 2024, he toured extensively, often sharing the stage with fellow Habibi Funk collaborator Rogér Fakhr. Through Hawalat, Megarbane reaffirms his place as a global musical storyteller, allowing influences and traditions to cross borders and meet fluidity and spontaneity."
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CD
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HAB 023CD
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"Habibi Funk is excited to share Marzipan - our first full length contemporary release courtesy of Beirut's multi-instrumental phenom Charif Megarbane, also known as the man behind prolific Cosmic Analog Ensemble. The LP is a journey into Charif's styling, one he terms 'Lebrary': a vision of Lebanon and Mediterranean expressed through the kaleidoscopic sonics of library music. Drawing from artists that encapsulates the HF sound, such as Ziad Rahbani, Ahmed Malek and Issam Hajali, Charif translates these influences into an LP that is equally at home in '23. Following his previous release of EP Tayara Warak in 2022, Marzipan is a sonic journey that seeks to capture the full scope of Megarbane's habitus. As a composer and producer, Megarbane touts hugely versatile, sometimes volatile musicianship -- his catalogue of projects (including legendary groups like the Cosmic Analog Ensemble, Free Association Syndicate, Monumental Detail, etc.) features a huge domain of sonic direction. This collection was previously developed in Megarbane's own Hisstology label which hosts a wealth of collaborative efforts. Now, Habibi Funk represents Megarbane under his own name. Megarbane finds a sonic through-line in his surrounding soundscapes as he draws on the chaotic energy of the crowded Beirut metropolis ('Souk El Ahad'), the warm atmosphere of the Lebanese countryside ('Chez Mounir'), or the lushness of a Mediterranean beach resort ('Portemilio'). Reflecting the aural composition of his direct surroundings into kaleidoscopic instrumentation provides a unique insight into how one musical phenomenon transposes sight into sound. Habibi Funk is thrilled to share Marzipan and finally throttle this under-the-radar phenomenon into the solo spotlight. Despite the magnitude of his catalog, Megarbane's LP sounds as fresh -- as resolutely inspired -- as a debut record. Marzipan continues down the winding path he trod on EP Tayyara Warak (released December, 2022) which features solid footing in the hectic city sounds Megarbane hears as home. Despite his obvious musical acumen, Megarbane's greatest talent seems to be his open ears. In many ways, Marzipan is a cartographic feat -- it travels and traces a journey across many dimensions (both sonic and physical). Megarbane's instrumental catalogue is vast: toy glockenspiel, harpsichord, pedal steel, a classic Wurlitzer, et al are used liberally on the record. The resultant sound is as sprawling as the musician's instrumental dexterity."
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LP
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HAB 023LP
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LP version. "Habibi Funk is excited to share Marzipan - our first full length contemporary release courtesy of Beirut's multi-instrumental phenom Charif Megarbane, also known as the man behind prolific Cosmic Analog Ensemble. The LP is a journey into Charif's styling, one he terms 'Lebrary': a vision of Lebanon and Mediterranean expressed through the kaleidoscopic sonics of library music. Drawing from artists that encapsulates the HF sound, such as Ziad Rahbani, Ahmed Malek and Issam Hajali, Charif translates these influences into an LP that is equally at home in '23. Following his previous release of EP Tayara Warak in 2022, Marzipan is a sonic journey that seeks to capture the full scope of Megarbane's habitus. As a composer and producer, Megarbane touts hugely versatile, sometimes volatile musicianship -- his catalogue of projects (including legendary groups like the Cosmic Analog Ensemble, Free Association Syndicate, Monumental Detail, etc.) features a huge domain of sonic direction. This collection was previously developed in Megarbane's own Hisstology label which hosts a wealth of collaborative efforts. Now, Habibi Funk represents Megarbane under his own name. Megarbane finds a sonic through-line in his surrounding soundscapes as he draws on the chaotic energy of the crowded Beirut metropolis ('Souk El Ahad'), the warm atmosphere of the Lebanese countryside ('Chez Mounir'), or the lushness of a Mediterranean beach resort ('Portemilio'). Reflecting the aural composition of his direct surroundings into kaleidoscopic instrumentation provides a unique insight into how one musical phenomenon transposes sight into sound. Habibi Funk is thrilled to share Marzipan and finally throttle this under-the-radar phenomenon into the solo spotlight. Despite the magnitude of his catalog, Megarbane's LP sounds as fresh -- as resolutely inspired -- as a debut record. Marzipan continues down the winding path he trod on EP Tayyara Warak (released December, 2022) which features solid footing in the hectic city sounds Megarbane hears as home. Despite his obvious musical acumen, Megarbane's greatest talent seems to be his open ears. In many ways, Marzipan is a cartographic feat -- it travels and traces a journey across many dimensions (both sonic and physical). Megarbane's instrumental catalogue is vast: toy glockenspiel, harpsichord, pedal steel, a classic Wurlitzer, et al are used liberally on the record. The resultant sound is as sprawling as the musician's instrumental dexterity."
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