Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem's "Souvenance" was composed in 2014, following a six-year hiatus since his previous ECM release, "The Astounding Eyes of Rita." The artist acknowledges that composing this music took considerable time, as his emotional life was consumed by the political upheavals that engulfed first Tunisia and later neighboring countries. Despite the lack of a direct link between his musical creations and the Tunisian events, Brahem confirms that these events profoundly affected him. Musically, the album explores new territory with the return of François Couturier to Brahem's ensemble, whose contributions are frequently underpinned by subtle string arrangements. The orchestral sounds lend the compositions a luminous transparency and fragility, often forming a shimmering sonic tapestry against which the quartet members—particularly Brahem's distinctive oud playing—stand out clearly. Brahem's first double album was recorded in May 2014 in the studios of Lugano under the direction of producer Manfred Eicher.
