There's nothing especially modern about this young Arabic band, even though about half the compositions on this debut are attributed to group members. Instead, the sound is very much in the Sufi-influenced tradition, with some classical Arabic music alongside it -- and for most people, the difference will be impossible to hear. What does set
Dozan apart a little is the instrumentation, using cello, viola, and guitar alongside oud, percussion, and three singers, including the enchanting Nadine Shahuan. The members are drawn from across the Middle East, but they blend together with perfect sympathy. The standout cut has to be "Lau Rahal Sawti," where the only instruments are the voices and the harmonies hang gorgeously over the melody. Whether they're doing enough that's really different remains to be seen; there's a sense that they're just starting to find their feet here, and a more individual sound will develop by their next release.