Mohammed Matiyri Essentials

With virtuosic offerings like Hazatni (2009), Mohammed Matiyri has captivated devotees of the nasheed. In the album’s titular song, his profoundly moving a cappella vocals and lyrics paint vivid images that capture the pain of war. Although his mystical and poetic Islamic elegies are often assisted by sinuous arrangements, the chanter’s sumptuous, nuanced vocals are enough to strike at the core of the human experience. There are also beautifully soothing harmonies, like in “Fi Gheyabek Eqaa”, as Matiyri ushers in an emotive tapestry of keys, percussion and soulful choruses.