Hawalat [LP], Charif Megarbane, Vinyl

Taking inspiration from hawala, a system of informal money transfers made to certain countries impacted by a lack of currency or unstable contexts. Megarbane spins this concept on its head, reimagining it as an artistic exchange spanning cultures, generations, and geographies. This spirit of creative movement is embodied in the album’s amalgamative nature, featuring contributions from an international lineup of artists, including London-based jazz vocalist Sahra Gure, Italian-Tunisian singer LNDFK, Neapolitan pianist Dario Bassolino, Berlin beatmaker and violinist FloFilz, and an 18-piece orchestral arrangement by Swedish composer Sven Wunder. Recorded across multiple locations, from Beirut to Brooklyn, Stockholm to a rural French commune, the album’s sonic journey mirrors its thematic premise.

Musically, the track list of Hawalat travels through a varied journey of textures and temperaments. The album’s opener, Hanadi, is a percussive, Somali-inspired groove with wordless vocals and soaring saxophone lines. Tracks like Al Dollarji and Al Bahriye encapsulate Megarbane’s signature Mediterranean sound, while Helia, performed with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra, showcases his cinematic sensibilities. Jana, an homage to the late Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, sees Megarbane transform his guitar into a kora-like instrument, staying true to his commitment to experimentation.

Following Marzipan (2023), which took a look inwards at the heart of Lebanon, Hawalat expands further outwards, exploring themes of diaspora, exile, and artistic migration. “As much as Marzipan was a portrait of Lebanon from the inside, Hawalat picks up where it left off,” Megarbane explains. The album avoids nostalgic recreations of the past, instead situating itself comfortably in the present with a sound that is both timeless and contemporary.

Through Hawalat, Megarbane reaffirms his place as a global musical storyteller, allowing influences and traditions to cross borders and meet fluidity and spontaneity.

LP Includes booklet with unseen photos and liner notes by Armani Syed, and QR Code for MP3 download.