ALBUM REVIEW

RAMI BASISAH - MY JOURNEY

This 21-year-old Syrian refugee offers a heartbreaking debut album, two years after he fled the war-torn city of Homs across eight countries with his violin on his back and being housed in Germany. The moving Elegy Of A Lost Nation sears through the soul with despair sadly associated with Rami Basisah's homeland in recent years. His mix of traditional Arabian music and classical versions of newer tracks including OneRepublic's Counting Stars is led by an Arabic-influenced version of the European Union's official national anthem, Beethoven's Ode To Joy, Anthem For Europe. At a time when the EU is described as being plunged into crisis, this young violinist, alongside producers James Morgan and Juliette Pochin, provides an alternative argument. One of cultures clashing not in fear or hatred, but in hope, freedom and blossoming creativity.

8/10

(Review by Joe Nerssessian)