01 Habban
02 The Primitivist
03 Pass & Go
04 This Is Not Another Maqsoum
ABADIR, known to his friends as Rami Abadir, is a music producer, sound designer, DJ and music critic born in Cairo, Egypt and based in Berlin, Germany.
His artistic practice extends to academia, music criticism and critical theory and he’s also the editor of the electronic music section at Arab web magazine Ma3azef.
The Primitivist is his first release on Planet Mu after releasing 3 albums with SVBKVLT. Rami explains, “If I have to choose between futurism or primitivism, I’d rather be a primitivist.” He argues against futurism, making the point that it’s often Eurocentric and dystopian fantasies that a lot of electronic music is tied to, fetishising it, leaving out any empathy with the experiences of communities under warfare or authoritarianism. The music he makes aims to reflect the here and now.
Mutate, Abadir’s club-focussed album via SVBKVLT, centered on the mutation of jungle, footwork, and reggaeton through a primary focus on the Egyptian Maqsoum rhythmic pattern. However, The Primitivist leaves this formula behind in favour of a deeper engagement with culturally rooted music traditions. This EP draws on a range of rhythmic patterns, techniques and instruments from across the Arab region, with particular influence from Iraq, Kuwait, Syria and Palestine. The end result is undeniably banging and versatile club music, it’s fun and built for dancing. Breaking out of 4/4 monotony with plenty of stop and start rhythmic trapdoors and breakdowns and absolutely crushing kick drums.
We kick off with the lead single Habban, rolling out over a 4/4 kick, de-centered by Darbuka, Khishba and wailing synths, it’s infectious and powerful. Next we hear The Primitivist which builds off high-speed drums over Mijwiz pipes and vocal samples. The Tsifteteli rhythm of Pass & Go processes back and forth stabs, building up and breaking down, while finisher, This Is Not Another Maqsoum is high-speed Darbuka with brass synths, whipping around Dahiyya music. Quick edits and fast kicks add to the energy, testing the dancers to the limits of their bodies.