Review Summary: We’ll fade into the night.
I tend to rely heavily on the use of metaphors and excessive adjectives to explain my thoughts concerning an album—which is both a blessing and a curse. While it makes it easier for readers to relate to what I’m trying to explain, it also doesn’t really lend to actually exploring what makes an album good or bad in a purely musical sense. I am admittedly not as familiar with scales, notes and chords as some other critics might be, and my adjective-ridden, flowery prose sometimes comes across as pretentious, even to me.
It is especially damning when I come across an album that defies my own logic; that leaves me so reverent that no description or metaphor could really do it justice. While I could come up with a million different words to explain why this album is a special record, it wouldn’t actually matter—the only thing that could really be done is to tell you to listen to it, because no amount of words would properly capture the beauty of this record.
In the spirit of encouraging you to listen to what is definitely a new contender for my album of the year though, I am going to try my best to put my thoughts to into words. I don’t think Arooj Aftab is going to read this review, but in the strange possibility that she does, please forgive me—my written words are really only a shoddy substitute for the thoughts I had while listening to
Night Reign.
If we start by the layers on which this album is built, it would seem appropriate to begin with the rhythm section—as so much of its genius is placed in simplicity. The arrangements are never overly complex, and the melodic instrumentation and Aftab’s voice float over bass lines and percussion segments that feel as unchangeable as the ebb and flow of the tide. This sort of foundation is the key to creating the enthralling atmosphere of
Night Reign.
Atop that foundation, Aftab utilizes a diverse array of instrumentals to create a tapestry of sound that is as haunting as it is beautiful. The improvisational work throughout Nigh Reign is top notch, with guest appearances from musicians such as Vijay Iyer, Joel Ross and James Francies. What is most impressive about it though, is how the arrangements are both unique and manage to seamlessly blend into a unified whole, The album is thematically cohesive with regard to the picture that Aftab is trying to paint, not only with the pacing and overall feel of the album, but with regard to the genres employed. The elements of both folk and jazz that are used complement each other in a consistent and engaging manner, with neither genre overpowering the other.
All of it though, from rhythm to instrumentals, takes a back seat to Aftab’s voice. It is the gold thread that is woven through the aforementioned musical tapestry. Singing in Urdu and English, Aftab delivers a breathtaking performance that floats above the album as a guiding star. Further, Aftab has a keen knowledge of when to take control of the music and when to let the music speak for itself, which only adds to the ethereal atmosphere created throughout the album. The sometimes minimalistic approach she takes would be infuriating if it weren't for the fact that I would find myself waiting in anticipation to hear her sing again.
The sum of it all is an album that conveys the oft contradictory feeling of contemplative loneliness—like realizing you're the last person left at the bar stuck in your thoughts, or catching the perfect sunset but not having anyone to share it with. It is an album that embraces the quiet solitude of a night spent alone, looking at the ocean.
