Nusrat's lost songs are to be released in September

More than two and half a decade after the demise of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, his 'lost album' is going to be published on September 20 this year from UK-based Real World Records, supported in part by the British Council.

The lost album, 'Chain of Light', was discovered in the tape archives of British musician and world music activist Peter Gabriel's Real World Records.

Chain of Light comprises four traditional qawwali tracks, including one that has never been heard before. The album was recorded in April 1990 at Real World Records and discovered in 2021.

Real World Records has been a platform for Nusrat's musical legacy, having previously released several of his albums, each a testament to his unique artistry. Notable among these are 'Shahen-Shah' (1989), 'Passion' (a collective effort, 1990), 'Mustt Mustt' (a collaboration with Michael Brook, 1990; re-released 2012), and 'Night Song' (another collaboration with Michael Brook, 1995).

'Night Song' was even nominated for the Grammy Awards, a testament to its exceptional 'fusion' qualities, as described by Dr. Pierre-Alain Baud in his book 'Nusrat: The Voice of Faith' (2015).

Baud notes, 'Apart from the Indo-Pakistani diaspora, primarily in England, the most influential factors on his international career were Peter Gabriel, with Womad [World of Music, Arts and Dance] festivals and his 'Real World' label, and  Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.'

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a legendary Pakistani qawaali singer. His songs are still popular among South Asians. Mohammed Ayub from Oriental Star Agencies had introduced Peter Gabriel to Nusrat.

Gabriel once gladly reminisced, 'Since our first meeting at Womad in 1985, Nusrat's voice and music have been an important part of my life. I have never heard so much spirit in a voice. My two main singing inspirations, Nusrat and Otis Redding, have been the supreme examples of how far and deep a voice can go in finding, touching and moving the soul.'

'There is an amazing clarity to these performances,' producer Michael Brook commented. 'They are more harmonically adventurous than the other songs that Nusrat was recording at the time, and the whole group is firing on all cylinders.'

aaa1.16803399@gmail.com