Khedmat Be Khalq

The first three releases by Naujawanan Baidar, the solo project of Afghan-American artist  N.R. Safi, were a static-filled, distorted and noisy mix of Afghan folk melodies — woven with instruments like amplified Afghan rubab, armonia, tabla, and ghichak — hypnotic hooks, and heavy rhythms.  Khedmat Be Khalq, the first one to be recorded with a full studio setup, moves along the same lines but feels more refined and cohesive, without losing any of Naujawanan Baidar’s original raw appeal. It’s still a heavy ride, all over-amplified, distorted instruments and screeching vocals, but it’s a controlled explosion that harnesses the anger and discontent of generations of Afghans (including the diaspora) who have been fighting military invasions, religious extremism and oppression. It’s rousing, stirring, and passionate music  — the soundtrack to an uprising.