Habibi Funk 036: Pieces of a Dream - CD

Recorded between 1988 and 1989 in a small 8-track home studio in Amman, Pieces of a Dream captures a side of the Arab music scene that is rarely documented: a group of musicians deeply inspired by jazz, soul, yacht rock, and city pop, creating music that sounds closer to late-night Los Angeles or London than what most would associate with Jordan at the time.Nechazz was formed by Palestinian-Jordanian musicians Basim Said and Khaldoon Nasser, and Iraqi singer and guitarist Kassim Sabounchi. While the trio became locally known for their live shows at the iconic Amman club Rumours, the music they wrote and recorded together was never officially released and remained unheard-even among friends and family. The album blends smooth R&B, jazz, and sophisticated pop arrangements, drawing inspiration from artists such as Bobby Caldwell, Steely Dan, Michael Franks, early George Michael, Tears for Fears, Level 42, and Stevie Wonder, while still sounding entirely like their own creation. Tracks like "Love Meeting Love" and "Over You" showcase the band's smooth harmonies, synth work, and musicianship. The release began as a cassette discovered in a family archive and has since become one of the most pleasantly surprising rediscoveries of late-1980s Arab independent music: a timeless collection of songs created between rehearsals, nightlife shifts, aviation careers, and everyday life in Amman.