We’re over the moon to know that endlessly talented and adventurous composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Maurice Louca is back with a new album, Barĩy (Fera) برٌِي, set for release on May 30th through Simsara Records. The album’s title originates from the Latin root for “feral”, encapsulating the untamed essence that permeates the compositions. The album features hypnotic polyrhythms at its core, which serve as the foundation for a sound rich in acoustic tonality and vibrant energy. Louca’s use of custom-made microtonal guitars allows for nuanced phrasings that weave through violin, synthesizer, and other instruments to create moments of striking beauty.​ As always, his work is a blend of careful composition and spontaneous collaboration, and this album is no different.

The inception of Fera traces back to a solo performance Louca developed back in 2019. Over a four-year period, the compositions evolved, culminating in recording sessions at a Cairo studio in 2024. Louca reunited with longtime collaborators and invited guest artists, including violinist Ayman Asfour, percussionist and drummer Khaled Yassine, double bassist Rosa Brunello, and co-producer Adham Zidan. Multi-instrumentalist Nancy Mounir and oud virtuoso Hazem Shaheen also contribute to a couple of tracks.

The first taste of Fera comes in the form of the single ‘El Taalab الثعلب’, which features performances by Asfour, Yassine, Mounir, and Brunello. Louca composed, arranged, and produced the piece, with co-production and mixing by Adham Zidan. Utterly gorgeous, radiant and engrossing, ‘El Taalab الثعلب’ leaves us eagerly awaiting the release of Fera.