by DARRELL JONSSON
No band better personifies the effect that Prague’s multicultural community has on local music than Al-Yaman.
Founded in 2000, Al-Yaman has thrived on lyricist/singer/lute player Ashwaq Abdulla Kulaib’s emotive vocals and multi-instrumentalist/producer Aleš Hyvnar’s (aka Al-esh) meticulous attention to detail. The remaining members of the group help bridge the sonic folklore of Yemen with Central European electro-rock prowess, haling from Yemen, Israel, Palestine and the Czech Republic.
This month, the band is releasing their second CD, Insanyya (on the Czech Indies label), following the success of their 2004 award-winning debut disc Hurriya. Once again, Al-Yaman has made a world-class statement by melding vast electronic rock dynamics with Arab classical music, the three-string Middle Eastern lute known as a saz and a mix of traditional and original lyrics sung in Yemeni Arabic.
Prague Post for more