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Karim Douaidy is an international guitarist and composer – formerly of progressive rock band MUTE – who recently released his stunning solo EP, A Countdown To Genesis. The four-song EP showcases the in-demand film composer’s acoustic-based progressive and experimental style. He effortlessly blends together organic elements of classical, smooth jazz and even new age and prog-rock for a carefully crafted and wholly unique sound. Douaidy was born in Paris and has lived in Lebanon and Boston before finally settling in New York City where he composes music for commercials, movies and other multimedia projects. For his solo recording, he brings his well-travelled experience and a palpable passion to his music that shines through. Each song is an epic opus in and of itself and blooms with his tasteful and not overly “showy” finger-style based guitar playing.
“Neugeneration” opens the EP with Flamenco-inspired flair alongside his fluid fretwork and complex layers of bright melodic arpeggios that sparkle and jangle. All of the songs were composed, performed, produced, and engineered by the multi-talented Karim Douaidy with the exception of “Myst”, which was co-produced by guest David Grinbaum, who also contributes his guitar playing to the song. The aptly-titled standout track is both mystical and wispy like a mist but disappears just as quickly, urging you to play the jaunty tune over again in order to catch every last detail and nuance. “Elodie, ma Melodie” follows with an upbeat propulsive rhythm; the song also recalls the late New Age guitar mastermind Michael Hedges except that Douaidy adds a slight classic country & western twang to the gorgeous pinging harmonics for another standout moment. Closing out this set of songs is “Eddy Boy”, the most dynamic song of the bunch; as it opens with several melodic scaling guitar runs and a driving rhythm before relaxing into a laid-back groove of gentle strumming and subtle jazz-informed flourishes that end the EP on a high note.
Unfortunately a lot of instrumental music gets a bad rap; with some sarcastically and even lazily labeling it as “boring”, “background music” or “something to help them sleep”. But right from the start, Karim Douaidy’s A Countdown To Genesis EP engages and entrances the listener with his hypnotic and complex yet highly-melodic guitar playing and songwriting skills. The only actual disappointment is that the four-song EP is much too short and it only serves to heighten the anticipation for the release of a proper full-length album from the virtuoso. So put on your headphones and immerse yourself in Douaidy’s world – savoring each and every note – I promise you will not regret it.
Reviewed by: Justin Kreitzer
Rating 4 out of 5 stars
