Live Review: Omar Souleyman, Fabulous Diamonds

Melbourne duo Fabulous Diamonds get the evening off to a slow start with what feels like a bit of a sound check and last-minute tweaking of their instruments. 

Playing to a handful of people, they give us a funereal set of dirge-like tunes that have high priestess Nisa Venerosa dealing bewitching incantations over the slow thud of her drums. Jarrod Zlatic labours over two unsequenced keyboards layering chords and effects, providing the mix with sweeter textures. Gaining momentum, Fabulous Diamonds start to sparkle when they drift into a world of dreamy fantasy. 

Syrian wedding singer Omar Souleyman’s star has been on the rise since the release of the Four Tet-produced album Wenu Wenu. These days his fame extends well beyond the borders of Syria and Souleyman is no longer playing at weddings where eager young couples dedicate their lives to each other. Rather he is playing gigs around the world that attract a curious mix of lively Syrian expats and hipsters looking to get down to a more exotic beat.

Synthesiser wizard Rizan Sa’id accompanies Souleyman’s Middle Eastern folk-pop with an electro-acid slant and techno-rave beats. Electronic approximations of traditional instruments sound just a little wonky and add to the charm of the mix, which features wild faux saz solos with hooks that twist and wind their way deep into the mind like earworms. Resplendent in his signature keffiyeh and jubba, it is from behind those über-cool dark sunglasses that Souleyman, a total livewire, gets the party started as he treats us to his deep, booming and full-throated vocals.

Just one song into the set and smartphone brandishing expats are dancing dabke with an energy that’s totally infectious. Souleyman indulges these aspiring photographers as they flick 50 and 20 dollar notes his way and onto the stage. Some of them are videoing and others seem to be Skyping the event directly to astonished friends stuck at home.

The crowd at the Corner get caught in the moment, like whirling dervishes enthusiastically clapping their hands. It transforms the gig into a joyous celebration of life and love that leaves behind the rather bleak headlines his country has been attracting lately. It’s also reassuring to see Souleyman’s music so capably working the dancefloor, providing a more interesting option than some of the generic EDM currently in circulation.