JAUBI - A Sound Heart - 2LP - Gatefold Vinyl [SEP 20]

2LP - Black Vinyl housed in a Gatefold Sleeve.  

For Pakistan's JAUBI, “A Sound Heart” is the next chapter for the collective both sonically and spiritually, which follows on from their critically acclaimed debut album "Nafs At Peace" (Top 10 Global albums in The Guardian, Best of 2021 albums in Bandcamp) which also received praise from Downbeat and Pitchfork amongst others.

“A Sound Heart '' is the next chapter for Jaubi both sonically and spiritually. The title is inspired from a verse in the Holy Qu’ran (26:89) which declares that neither wealth nor children will be of any help to a person on the Day of Judgment "except [those] who will come to God with a sound heart".

The heart in this context is the spiritual Heart (Qalb) for it is our heart which is the basis for our engagement with God. A Sound Heart is sincere, without doubts and free of ignorances, vices and materialistic attachments.

Importantly, it refers to a state where the heart is spiritually healthy and content with only God. A Sound Heart’s basis is goodness, rooted in love and in this case, it is love for one’s creator. Everything is done with the sole purpose of pleasing God. This album is therefore in simplistic terms a love album for one’s lover who could represent God, a partner, family or even love for oneself.

The title track is inspired by Bill Evans and a dedication to not only Evans but also to the bandleader’s father who is portrayed on the album cover in a state of raw contemplation and vulnerability. The photo is a snapshot of long conversations between the father and son, navigating through a tough period of emotional landscapes in their relationship. It thus represents a son coming back to his father after repairing their relationship and yearning for the fatherly love from before.

Each side of “A Sound Heart” tries to sonically capture different types of love and different stages of love, with LP1 (Desire) representing the stage with one yearning and craving for passion whilst LP2 (Devotion) is the contemplative and heartfelt section of the album, signifying when one is vulnerable and has the sophistication to look inwards to come to their lover with a purified or sound heart.

Throughout this incredible journey, meditative ragas blend with Herbie Hancockesque motifs, joined by lament-filled contemporary melodies intertwining with the intricate sounds of the sarangi and earthy layering of the tabla. A true masterpiece of composition from start to finish.

This album is dedicated to God…whoever or whatever that means to you.  

Tracklist: 

LP1 - "Desire"
Side A
1.    Lahori Blues (Blues for Shorter)
2.    Chandrakauns

Side B
1.    Wings Of Submission
2.    Throw It Down
3.    Raga Bairagi Todi

LP1 - "Devotion"
Side C
1.    Mingusterstood (Blues for Mingus)
2.    Soothing Mercy
3.    A Sound Heart

Side D
1.    Forgive Me
2.    Reflections Of God