Romena

Percussion was the backbone of 2021’s excellent Frigya, thanks to Tunisian percussionist Imed Alibi. But even without his collaborator, multi instrumentalist and producer Khalil Epi unleashes a barrage of rapid-fire percussion on Romena, a collection of propulsive, breathless tracks that weave together traditional rhythmic patterns from the Tunisian city of Sfax, heavy bass, vintage Roland riffs, what sounds like a ney or gasba flute, and warped vocal samples. The frantic rhythms are paired with twisting, soaring melodies, a combination that demands your attention from the very start. A dance floor-ready beast.