<span>Wael Kfoury keeps it concise in his new album </span><span><em>W.</em></span><span> The nine-track offering that clocks in at just over 35 minutes may make some fans feel short-changed but the leanness of this album means listeners are getting only the best.</span> <span>None of the tracks here deviate from the 42-year-old Lebanese silver fox’s winning balladry we are used to, and instead further refines his skills as an emotive vocalist.</span> <span>The hook of opener </span><span><em>Waet Lbensaki</em></span><span> lies in the strings, with Kfoury moving from sleepy bass croon to plaintive cry in the chorus.</span> _________________________ <strong>READ MORE:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/from-lana-del-rey-to-coldplay-11-album-releases-to-get-excited-for-1.355302">From Lana Del Rey to Coldplay: 11 album releases to get excited for</a> </strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/emirati-omar-al-marzooki-on-his-debut-album-and-supporting-emerging-artists-1.616432">Emirati Omar Al Marzooki on his debut album and supporting emerging artists</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/uae-super-group-abri-the-dreamfleet-take-flight-with-debut-single-1.615204">UAE super-group Abri & the Dreamfleet take flight with debut single</a></strong> _________________________ <span><em>Sornoh Soloh </em></span><span>has more of a folk flavour thanks to the atmospheric ney and oud, while the summery </span><span><em>Glotti Bittouwit</em></span><span> is a carefree mix of Arabic pop with a Latin back beat. </span><span><em>Tariq El Falli </em></span><span>is a highlight; the tale of a love interest who did Kfoury wrong and in which his vocals ascend effortlessly over an upbeat production until he delivers the big kiss-off.</span> <span>The question is, is the pain described in these songs genuine? Who cares when it sounds this smooth.</span>
