{"product_id":"ali-and-charif-megarbane-tirakat","title":"Ali and Charif Megarbane – Tirakat","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTirakat\u003c\/em\u003e brings together Jakarta-based trio Ali and Lebanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Charif Megarbane in a collaboration shaped by long-standing cultural exchange between Indonesia and the Arab world. Ali’s blend of 1970s Indonesian psychedelic funk, Melayu traditions, disco grooves and Arab melodic forms meets Charif’s long-running exploration of cross-regional sound, rooted in a shared musical vocabulary rather than genre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than approaching the project as fusion, \u003cem\u003eTirakat\u003c\/em\u003e reflects a way of making music that feels already interconnected. Melodies, grooves and textures move fluidly without signalling their sources, grounded in a performance-led process shaped by intuition, repetition and trust. Western instruments are played through techniques and sensibilities formed in Indonesia and Lebanon, emphasising circulation of influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe title \u003cem\u003eTirakat\u003c\/em\u003e refers to a Javanese practice of discipline, patience and devotion, derived from the Arabic tariqa (“path” or “method”). This layered meaning mirrors the album’s focus on process and continuity. The result is a record that feels both contemporary and timeless, where Indonesian and Arab sounds intersect naturally through groove, texture and melody. — (via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/habibifunkrecords.bandcamp.com\/album\/habibi-funk-034-tirakat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eLabel\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComing off two excellent records released on Habbi Funk that showed off his skills as a beatmaker, sample wrangler, song crafter, and arranger, the Lebanese musician Charif Megarbane teamed with the Indonesian trio Ali to make a record. \u003cem\u003eTirakat\u003c\/em\u003e is the result of the pairing and it's brilliant. Organic, genre-bending, flowing, and free, the album was recorded in three days’ time and feels like a well-curated journey through an amazing record collection. They jump all over the map, trip through time, and visit as many styles as possible, all with a mix of precision and spontaneity that makes the music a joy to listen to. They venture into disco on \"Mosaics,\" Arabic funk on \"Kuda Arab,\" tender balladry on \"Ahmad's Lament,\" dancehall reggae on \"Bandar Batavia,\" modern Middle Eastern pop on \"Pekojan Funk,\" and Turkish-inflected psych on \"Abaday.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat's nice is that they don't just flit from style to style, they mash them up with abandon, creating kaleidoscopic hybrids that are sure to blow a few minds. Take \"Ombak, Ombak,\" for example. It has a highly danceable rhythm, fuzzed-out psychedelic guitars, swirling easy listening strings that soar to the heavens, vintage organs, harpsichords, and synthesizers trading off, and a melody that is impossible to eject from one's head. It's also arranged to perfection, just like Megarbane's solo work. Other tracks are less ornate and deliver more visceral thrills, like the punchy Curtis Mayfield-esque (if he were from Jakarta) \"A Ladder on the Balcony\" or the soothing \"Silk End,\" which concludes the album on a cloud of swirling strings, woodwinds, and gently plucked strings. The collaborative skills on display here from all the musicians are breathtaking and the music they've come up with is truly a vibe. A positive, warm, and welcoming embrace of sound that pulls together influences from sources that blend perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s the kind of record that is so entrancing that it's almost impossible not to start it up again from the beginning as soon as the last note fades. Charif Megarbane can do no wrong — as he's proven already — and from what's on offer here, Ali is definitely worth exploring further. Together they have made magic. — (via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allmusic.com\/album\/tirakat-mw0004754239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAll Music\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4FiEX8kdgko6dZkaYzqeqs?utm_source=generator\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e↓\u003cbr\u003eLabel: Habibi Funk\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Vinyl, LP, Album\u003cbr\u003eReissued: 2026 \/ Originally Released: 2021\u003cbr\u003eGenre: Jazz, Folk, World, \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFile under: Global Sounds\u003cbr\u003e⦿\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Habibi Funk Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47607845060766,"sku":"5051083232401","price":60.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0584\/5434\/3838\/files\/a0206727659_10.jpg?v=1780733510","url":"https:\/\/theanalogvault.com\/products\/ali-and-charif-megarbane-tirakat","provider":"The Analog Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}