El Khat

El Khat (or القات) is a Berlin based trio, originally from Jaffa, whose work builds on Yemenite folk music. They tend to keep Western influences to a minimum and stay fairly close to their musical roots. They are led by Eyal El Wahab, a multi-instrumentalist craftsman with a knack for constructing his own instruments. That DIY ethic and sense of scrappiness comes through clearly in their sound, which brings in all the regional elements one would expect, including Middle Eastern harmonies, syncopated beats, and occasional gang vocals that keep things loose, with a strong sense of tension at their core and an unmistakably earthy feel. They are an edgy bunch fueled by a restless spirit, which has so far led to a distinct and fascinating body of work.