Pop culture puts its best foot forward on »Intiha«. Since 2022, the Pakistani Ali Sethi is one of the world’s biggest stars. His song »Pasoori« was clicked over 675 million on YouTube. Combing reggaeton, electro pop and Hindustani singing, Sethi could easily fill stadiums, if not cities. So, what does the 39-year-old do in the face of unfathomable success? He releases an experimental elegy with producer Nicolas Jaar. »Intiha« is melancholic and decidedly marginal. Ambient, drones and clicks comprise fragile fields of sounds. The duo makes few concessions towards the listening habits perpetuated by mainstream radio and commercial curations of playlists. Beats are only allowed a guest appearance on the pre-released single. Instead, Sethi’s soft voices intertwines abstraction and deep pain. The queer musician is a student of Ustad Saami, a master of the qawwali tradition, that relies on a 40-note scale. Now, he himself delivered one of the year’s best vocal performances. »Intiha« is a utopian gem. Alas, like all utopias, it is rooted in the mire of political controversy. Allegedly, Jaar, a Chilean citizen of Palestinian descent, defaulted to justifying the pogrom attempted by Hamas as early as October 8th. Quite a turn-off? Absolutely. A reason to skip this album? Possibly. Those who are willing to endure the ambivalences of pop culture will find it rewarding, nonetheless.
Nicolas Jaar
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