Terra Papagalli. Jef Maarawi

Terra Papagalli is the kind of album that brings me back decades to the time I was still discovering all sorts of music coming in unfiltered as there was no comparison, except to music I liked as a young child that came in at face value. Music that I did not really like or thought too weird or that I simply was too young to appreciate when a teenager. Jef Maarawi presents a host of singer-songwriter influences that range all the way from Leo Sayer to Westcoast/Laurel Canyon singer-songwriters. Perhaps I never started to appreciate them all in later years.

Terra Papagalli, brings all these moods and musical references together in a most pleasant way, pressing a lot of buttons that crave pushing when listening to new music.

Jef Maarawi is a singer-songwriter with a story. Originating from Brazil he now lives in Athens, Greece where he writes and records his music.  Having a mother of Brazilian-Greek descent, winding up in Athens is less strange than it might appear at first glance. Having first released songs under the name Egg Hell, Maarawi released his first album in 2017, 'Comfort Food'.

On Terra Papagalli (land of parrots) a host of influences come together. In his singing I'm immediately reminded of both L.A. singer Patrick Joseph as NYC singer Steve Waitt, both so obscure that a direct influence is unlikely. Musically, as already pointed out, the range varies considerably.

Promo photo: Eftyhia Vlahou

The album contains songs that are immediately pleasing. Take the slow paced song 'How To Sustain Minor Losses'. The slow chords of the guitar with a heavy chorus effect on it, draw me in immediately. The kind of song that does not need a lot of effects to impress. Steve Waitt is one side, but the other is the kind of blue-eyed soul of the likes of Jon Allen and Jack Francis coming out of the south of England. I can state immediately that I like Terra Papagalli more as the songs are better and the album overall is far more varied. The differences between the songs is what keeps me alert when listening to the album.

With Terra Papagalli Jef Maarawi allows his listeners to relax and enjoy his songs, his music. With the album he invites you to listen and drop all else. The experience is both relaxing and gratifying. A short escape from a hectic world in which you as listener can slowly follow the changes he presents in his music, some predictable, others a surprise like the bitingly sung "mind your own fucking business" in 'Consume me'. Shocked ears are soothed by softly sung ah ahs, provided by the ladies singing the backing vocals. There are more surprises making the acquaintance with Terra Papagalli more than worth your while. Listen closely and you will even find hints at Maarawi's Brazilian roots.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Terra Papagalli here:

https://jefmaarawi-inner-ear.bandcamp.com/album/terra-papagalli

or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g