The Meteors Project's Journey

The Meteors Project seemed, like it's namesake, to pop out of nowhere and explode on to the scene, playing at Nacelle's massive live night along side a line-up that included Crazy P. The truth is, however, the meteor has been long hurtling towards us. Starting off as a collaborative effort between producer Gaser el Safty and guitarist Karim El Zanfally, long-time jamming mates, they then brought on Ali Sedky, as well as artist Edidiong Udo who creates the bands' artwork. Their debut album The Journey, which was released last month, features production and guitar by Safty and guitar by El Zanfally. The album kicks off with what sounds like the background chatter of a crowd and a breathy rhythm, before the ominous piano melody comes in accompanied by a pacy kick  that gives you the feel that this journey is starting with someone in a desperate situation.

A guitar takes over from the piano line giving it an Eastern twist which takes you into the second track on the album, Acceptable Changes. Half way through the kick and the clap bulges into the twisting, gerontogeous guitar riffs and you start to to get a feel of what The Meteor Project is all about. Mixing the old with the new, traditional instrumental sensibilities with catchy beats and occasional atmospheric additives. It's Nicolas Jarr on opium if you will.

The title third track fittingly epitomises their efforts to not just condone their sound to one feel or genre, but to not box any one track to the same vibe either. An infectious glitch rhythm turns into tablas and trumpets that would easily find a at a beach lounge, it then jumps into a smooth jazzy number.

The album takes an emotive turn with the wurlizter driven Lights and the cinematic Unknown Transition, both though interluded by Hip Hop-esque beats. Vocals come in for the first time in El Helwea Di, reaching male Arabic voice sing over an Oud with another Hip Hop beat blending together surprisingly well.

By the time the next track, Delight,  comes along, as a listener you're expecting another turn, or a build up of this journey but it unfortunately regresses to a more beach-lounge like sound, which the album often does in moments where the journey could have taken a more erratic or powerful twist. That laid back sound continues onto The Egyptian Experience and though the album could have easily ended at El Helwa Di, it is a journey and the album should probably be taken as a linear episode. The Egyptian Experience does pick up with some Dubstep-y horn-like synths before leading into the finale.

The first track introduces the listener to the danger of the journey, this last one, Safe Trip, naturally does the opposite and gives it a conclusion with a lovely light at the end of the tunnel moment, featuring euphoric strings and a happy guitar melody.

Overall The Meteors Project Journey is impressive, blending Oriental instruments with modern expressions and infectious beats in the least cheesy way possible. It's a collaboration which deserves a lot of attention in Cairo's monopathic sounscape and we're sure there'll be a regular feature over the coming months in the city's live venues.

Stream the whole album below and check them out on Facebook here.