Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary - El Hara

The lead single from Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary’s debut album ’So Far We Have Come’, El Hara opens with a striking Oud melody and swells to full expression as Tamsin joins on accordion, followed by her brother and producer Rowan Elliott on viola. “El Hara refers to a tiny alleyway bustling with life in the old part of Cairo”, Tarek remarks, “and this is a really Egyptian-feeling piece.” Tamsin’s characteristically sensitive solo is all the more compelling for the shock of hearing microtonality on accordion; the instrument was specially adapted for her by Nick Hart, and while quarter-tone accordions are used in larger Arabic orchestras, it’s rare to hear one outside of that context. Tarek Elazhary - oud Tamsin Elliott - quartertone accordion Rowan Elliott - viola Ricardo de Noronha - percussion Beautiful video by Kate Griffin Produced by Rowan Elliott Mastered by Sam Proctor at Lismore Mastering Tamsin’s accordion was tuned by Nick Hart