Charif Megarbane, Ali – Tirakat

Tirakat brings together Jakarta-based trio Ali and Lebanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Charif Megarbane in a collaboration shaped by long-standing cultural exchange between Indonesia and the Arab world. Ali’s blend of 1970s Indonesian psychedelic funk, Melayu traditions, disco grooves and Arab melodic forms meets Charif’s long-running exploration of cross-regional sound, rooted in a shared musical vocabulary rather than genre.

Rather than approaching the project as fusion, Tirakat reflects a way of making music that feels already interconnected. Melodies, grooves and textures move fluidly without signalling their sources, grounded in a performance-led process shaped by intuition, repetition and trust. Western instruments are played through techniques and sensibilities formed in Indonesia and Lebanon, emphasising circulation of influence.

The title Tirakat refers to a Javanese practice of discipline, patience and devotion, derived from the Arabic tariqa (“path” or “method”). This layered meaning mirrors the album’s focus on process and continuity. The result is a record that feels both contemporary and timeless, where Indonesian and Arab sounds intersect naturally through groove, texture and melody.

LP - Standard Edition Black Vinyl. Including 12" sized booklet with unseen photos and extensive liner notes, including interviews with Charif Megarbane and Ali and insights into the historical influences behind the music.

Genre: Global