DESCRIPTION:
Artist: Suns of Arqa
Title: Stranger Music
Label: Arka Sound Records
Genre: Ambient, Dub, Electronic
Date: Apr-2011
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/arq/arq1cd137.html
Web: http://sunsofarqa.co.uk/

Arka Sounds:

OK, so the thought of the world trance music wonders Suns of Arqa doing a cover versions album of Leonard Cohen songs didn't at first leap off the page or even into my CD player at first. However, after the first initial shock of this venture the album works exceedingly well and creates a weird but fascinating hybrid that traverses several barriers. It would be pointless to compare the tracks to the original songs as they sound very different, so I would be constantly repeating myself saying how different they are.

The opening to "Baghdad Batterie" is a little more traditional Suns of Arqa fair with its eastern sounding lead (played on an oud?) and trance rhythm. Tablas again help fill in the beat and the Suns begin to take off for an early evening raga feel, one of my personal favourites on the album.