Opening with the full-bodied cry of an oud, this edgy but lovely release from the boundary-pushing multiethnic quartet Hijaz places Arabic music at its centre before unfolding like a spring flower in different directions, via jazz. Any conventional verse, chorus, bridge stuff is dispensed in favour of exploring themes touched on by the Belgium-based crew's previous two albums. Here nahawands or maqams – the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music – reach out to other Mediterranean cultures in ways accessible and poetic. Guest vocalist, Tunisian songbird Abir Nasraoui, brings her melismatic vocals to two tracks including a poem about passionate love written by the 12th century mystic Ibn Arabi, a heart rending number made even more so by Salgado's lonely, spiritual bansuri. Elsewhere, the deft jazz piano of Greek-born Niko Deman and the glorious oud playing of Moufadghel Adhoum vie and blend on compositions that variously rouse, uplift and sooth. All delivered in a CD case with titles in both English and Arabic calligraphy.