I’m not sure if this is a demo or a ‘commercial’ release, arriving, as it does, in a home-made sleeve that appears to have been lovingly constructed using scissors and paper glue. The hand-made charm stretches into Azak’s beautiful and equally accomplished and rough-hewn songs. ‘Gazelle’ announces itself with what sounds like tape hiss before launching into some gorgeously intricate picked guitar and breathless vocals and sweet harmonies. The ghost of Nick Drake lurks within the picking and melodies but ‘Gazelle’ has plenty of twists and turns of its own as it breezes out of the speakers. ‘Verbatim’ adds ripples of keyboards and rudimentary, unobtrusive percussion to a pretty song full of ebbs and flows. It has a very haunting feel to it, subtle and atmospheric. ‘Red Charms’ combines adventurous, assured guitar work with drones, recalling some of John Fahey’s guitar work while ‘Belle Geneva’ has a very lo-fi folk feel to it, particularly the way in which Azak’s vocals and harmonies float in and out of the music.
The four songs contained on this disc are very pretty with a substance and atmosphere all of their own. At times it feels as though I’m eavesdropping in on something very private and personal. A special set of songs that beg to be heard by a wider audience.
http://www.myspace.com/yusufazak
//Andy Wood