Nadah el Shazly's production is perfectly in tune with the strengths of her voice. Take "Eid" for example, where the Egyptian musician loops and shifts a revolving sample of woodwinds to conjure a surreal ambiance. She is patient with words and sings in a soothing register as Sarah Pagé's graceful harp playing adds shards of light to the tune. The harp is on various tracks of Laini Tani and has a key role in the excellent title track. The spacious "Laini Tani" begins in a spellbinding fashion with a duet of harp improvising around gorgeous vocal melodies. Eventually, the harp locks into a steady rhythm, and deep drums and bass push towards an entrancing chorus.
Choruses were rarely the focus in the sprawling Ahwar, El Shazly's bold experimental debut. In Laini Tani, the compositions are based more around pop structure, and there is co-production by 3Phaz - El Shazly is not rehashing Ahwar tricks. It is a more direct work, and the alluring "Banit" takes full advantage of that. El Shazly and 3Phaz take two tonally distinct layers of drums and juxtapose their rhythm with the rumble of a puttering percussive sample. Amidst mesmerizing bells, keys, and harp, El Shazly creates a hypnotizing mystique, singing almost whispered vocals behind her primary vocal track. It's one of her most addictive tracks yet.
The ethereal combination of harp, piano, and singing in "Labkha" makes it clear that El Shazly does not need to focus on prominent drums to impress. However, "Dafaa Robaai" and "Ghorzetein" boast arresting drums that suggest that the Egyptian musician could make an entire album of head-nodding tracks. "Ghorzetein," an epic song with authoritative drums and sharp synths, has a striking intensity. When the percussion and electronic bass drums combine on "Ghorzetein," it shows part of what makes El Shazly's music so powerful. She mixes traditional elements with contemporary electronics and synths in captivating ways throughout Laini Tani. Even though it has been over half a decade since the release of Ahwar, the strength of El Shazly's unique artistry has not waned.
