On Barĩy (Fera) برٌي, Maurice Louca channels something raw, ancient, and beautifully alive. Released through Simsara Records, the album’s title, rooted in the Latin for “feral,” frames its wild energy; yet, this is no chaotic outburst. Instead, Louca carefully composes hypnotic polyrhythms and microtonal textures into a swirling acoustic ecosystem. It’s a dance between structure and freedom, built from material developed over the years and finalised in Cairo with longtime collaborators.

Tracks like ‘Sahar’, featuring oud master Hazem Shaheen, and the haunting ‘El Taalab’ with Nancy Mounir’s theremin push boundaries while honouring Arabic traditions. The interplay of violin, oud, and custom guitars creates vivid, tactile soundscapes that pulse with life. Standout closer ‘Barĩy (Fera)’ encapsulates this tension, being both untamed and meticulous.

Louca’s collaborators, Ayman Asfour, Khaled Yassine, and Rosa Brunello, breathe spirit into his compositions. Maha Maamoun’s dreamlike artwork, drawing from ancient rock art, underscores the album’s connection to land and lineage. This is Louca’s most refined work yet: spiritual, textural, and deeply rooted. Barĩy (Fera) invites listeners into a space where time folds and traditions melt into the now.