I met Yusuf Azak in 2009 and he gave me a sampler of his most recent EP so I feel perfectly justified in adding it to this series, even though the EP actually came out in 2008.

Having heard Yusuf Azak play acoustically at a Song By Toad event at The Bowery last year, I didn't expect his recordings to sound like they do. You've got to love this part of the Daily Record review of his recent Light Procession EP: "Opening two-minute track 19.19 sounds like a wheezy old tramp listening to backwards Beatles and singing what I think is 'crawling on my knees, I got pissed today'".

 Though Yusuf's influences are more the likes of Elliot Smith and Nick Drake -  I can understand the Beatles reference as there's quite a bit of eastern mysticism in this EP with Sitars and loops and weird shit, and his voice is an unusual breathy thing indeed which has been quite distorted by the effects on the CD.

 There are definite comparisons to David Thomas Broughton, who also has a distinctive vocal style and veers from the sublime to the downright bizarre, though when I asked Yusuf if he was also an influence he told me he'd never heard of him. 

Personally I'd love to hear a more pared down acoustic collection of Azak's songs, as I think his vocals and guitar playing were excellent live, and unique enough without the added dirge. I wouldn't be surprised though if his production improves and he eventually makes some kind of psychedelic masterpiece that showcases his natural talent as well as his penchant for outlandish and otherworldly noises.

Yusuf Azak - Where the Backroads Look Divine

Yusuf Azak on myspace