Mansur Brown – NAQI, Vol. 1 EP

From his 2018 debut album Shiroi up until now, South London’s Mansur Brown has been delivering consistently hypnotic and textured music. His ability to marry incredible guitar-led rhythms with hip-hop and drill-influenced instrumentals makes his music pulsating, entrancing and beautiful.

NAQI, Vol. 1 is his new project, a short 6-track EP that contains some of my favourite compositions of his to date. The dynamic drumming, flute and percussion on “Fever” make it a standout track to me, while the ethereal synths on tracks like “My Luck” and “Rise” make them both hypnotic moments on the album. His compositions sound inspired from North African and Middle Eastern music, with fast-paced guitar melodies that feel warm and embracing, with dynamic rhythms brought by both the smooth guitar leads and the heavy basslines that fill the track up with menacing energy, the closer “Mission”, which has this menacing bassline and rhythm that captures the intensity of Mansur Brown’s music, while combining that with smooth and soulful guitar leads.

Go listen to Mansur Brown’s new project NAQI, Vol. 1 EP below via Bandcamp and don’t forget to support!