Acclaim for Callings Of The Owed, the second album by Egyptian experimental duo Mi3raj, released by Ruptured in January 2026:

“Miraj’s Callings Of The Owed features contemporary poetry by Cairo based Mohamed Tarek Moussa, accompanied by Abdelrahman Shaat’s frequently uncanny and off-kilter production. Shaat’s skulking and shadowy production renders the pieces universal – ghostly tales of displacement and unease that transcend language. At times, Moussa’s vocals sound stretched to breaking point, even as the accompanying track rattles along below, a persistent and uncaring presence when stacked against a desperate vocal.” – Rosie Esther Solomon, The Wire

“Humming, almost elegiac songs that pool out slowly, Abdelrahman Shaat’s production consisting mostly of sustained tones that stretch single notes out to meditative length. Moussa’s voice—sometimes doubled, sometimes tripled, sometimes harmonizing with himself—tumbles over the notes, evoking both longing and delirium in equal measure.” – J. Edward Keyes, Bandcamp Essential Releases https://daily.bandcamp.com/essential-releases/essential-releases-january-23-2026

“This is a beautiful album that mirrors Toni Geitani‘s “Wahj” in some ways – Moussa’s Arabic lyrics which he speaks, sings, multi-tracks and sometimes growls, are accompanied by electronics, live and processed instruments and beats from Shaat. Wonderful stuff.” – Peter Hollo, Utility Fog broadcast on FBi Radio https://www.fbi.radio/programs/utility-fog/episodes/utility-fog-18th-january-2026

“Voice and music have an alchemic connection in these songs which combine to give the Mi3raj soundscape a clear personality. As Moussa purrs, growls, whispers, preaches, speaks and sings within Abdelrahman Shaat’s intuitive sonic foundation, the tension and sense of loss at the heart of Callings Of The Owed reaches out. These stories told from the tangle of their home city Cairo resonate to the struggles between tradition, change, loss, love, power and destruction.” – John Parry, Backseat Mafia https://www.backseatmafia.com/album-review-mi3raj-callings-of-the-owed-powerful-and-poetic-electronic-fusion-from-cairos-rising-underground-scene/