Dhafer Youssef – roots discovery of 2007

Even when your life is filled with great music, your sound palette occasionally gets a bit jaded. But then, every now and again, you hear something new, by accident, and find yourself exclaiming “who the H*ll is that!?”

Just such a moment hit me last night as I happened to catch Dhafer Youssef, a Tunisian oud player/singer, on a BBC Radio 3 live broadcast from Bath.

Utterly original, utterly captivating soundscape. Must investigate. Watch this space…




Gerry Smith