Azmari - In Oculis [Sdban]

Format: LP in printed sleeve.
CAT: SDBANU1209

Azmari is pleased to announce the release of their fourth opus, the 5-track EP ‘In Oculis’. This work reflects the band's collective desire to reinvent themselves. With a more minimalist approach, the four musicians have created an eclectic, intense and vibrant work, recorded during various residencies in Belgium and abroad. The result is a fusion of genres ranging from powerful grooves to cinematic jazz, passing through floating melodies and hypnotic soundscapes.

For this new project, Azmari teamed up with a long-time collaborator, Guillaume Souffrice (aka Mosso Mosso), who had previously been the band's guitarist in its early days. Souffrice's experience as a music therapist and multi-instrumentalist, combined with his passion for intercultural rhythms and melodies, brings a new depth and dimension to the group's sound.

Souffrice's extensive travels have taken him from Iranian Kurdistan, where he studied the daf (a large frame drum used in Sufi ceremonies), to northern India, where he immersed himself in the modal subtleties of the shehnai (Indian oboe). His affinity for psychedelic guitar tones and the classic wah-wah pedal remains central to his musical approach, creating a fusion between tradition and experimentation.

The EP opens with 'Night Plants Can Run', a track that begins with a rhythmic berimbau loop, a Brazilian percussion instrument traditionally used in capoeira. The piece proposes a constant and groovy journey between Rio de Janeiro and Sarajevo, with a guitar motif doubled by the saxophone, all supported by a deep 4/4 groove. In the middle section, an abundance of percussion (a hallmark of Azmari) is introduced, generating a sense of urgency and pursuit, inspired by the group's experience playing the track in the studio, imagining a race through the Amazon rainforest.

Next, ‘Disassembling the Matrix’ takes the listener on a 9/4 march that is both elusive and powerful. Born from an improvisation session where an arpeggiator loop kept playing, the band decided to continue with it, highlighting once again the beauty of spontaneous creation. ‘Lizzard’s Dream’ is a guitar-guided journey that gradually increases its energy. The song surprises with a sudden groovy break—which was initially the core of the track—before returning to its gentle and introspective character, closing side A of the vinyl.

The fourth track, ‘Eyelights’, originated on the shores of Lake Vevey in Switzerland. It reflects the result of a long period of mental observation and rhythmic exploration. Three distinct measures are used for its introduction, progressively integrating. The melody repeats with a peaceful and nostalgic air, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Under the direction of Frederik Segers, the EP's producer, ‘Eyelights’ takes on a cinematic character, incorporating classical upright piano sounds for the first time in Azmari's music.

The EP closes with ‘17th Tiger Print’, which transports us to the banks of the Ganges. Souffrice’s shehnai guides the track into a hypnotic and almost hallucinatory dimension, where the dialogue between his instrument and the baritone saxophone creates a dense and mystical atmosphere. This track encapsulates the essence of Azmari: a sound that connects cultures and emotions in a minimalist but highly effective way.

‘In Oculis’ marks another milestone in Azmari’s musical evolution, combining the band's characteristic style with new influences and experimentation. Whether you're a long-time follower or this is your first encounter, this EP promises to take you on another journey around the world.