Ping Kong

DuOud consists of two oud playing Istanbul based musicians; Tunisian born Jean-Pierre Smadja (already noted for two albums he issued as Smadj on MELT 2000), and Algerian born master oud player Mehdi Haddab (known for his work with the acclaimed French based trio, Evoko, and more recently Speed Caravan). Blending their North African heritage with the latest Western technology, the pair builds a musical cycle that looks to their African roots while absorbing and morphing contemporary music styles - break beats, jazz grooves and metal guitar. While DuOud are not the first to mix the North African lute with electronic technology, they do it with such an imaginative freedom that sets them apart from their contemporaries; their debut album Wild Serenade saw them nominated for the Best Newcomer award in the 2003 BBC Music Awards. On Ping Kong, DuOud hovers between tradition and futurism, with varying moods ranging from surf kitsch to contemporary groove. The album features cameos from Cyril Atef from Bumcello and Malouma.