Yemeni Jewish junkyard band
Berlin, Germany
Photo courtesy of artist
Berlin-based collective El Khat are second-generation Yemeni Jew refugees preserving traditional Yemeni melodies, with touches of swirling psych-rock, and gutbucket grooves played on a collection of homemade instruments. The trio takes its name from the traditional herbal stimulant chewed in Yemen and throughout the Horn of Africa, and their music mimics the herb’s dizzying, disorienting effects. Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Eyal El Wahab, the ensemble puts a contemporary DIY spin on the rich musical heritage of the Yemeni community, while paying tribute to Yemen’s golden age of traditional music.