Pakistan's first hang drum album set for release.

KARACHI -- For any musician especially those that for the most part have approached their craft through a Western prism, an alien instrument presents certain challenges; both from a technical and philosophical standpoint. To balance creative preference and positionality is truly a feat quite a few are able to achieve in this regard. This, of course, does not apply to the lot that sees to use 'other' art forms as exotic spices for a very much cosmopolitan product.

But the altruistic creative would have to tread carefully. For the pursuit to achieve something 'groundbreaking' could very well lead to an appropriation (Read bastardisation) of an art form in the eyes of those that might hold reverence for it in a rather transcendent way.

Given that in Pakistan even the country's own indigenous instruments are perceived as world-music-esque by the urban producers, something fairly recent and foreign like a hang-drum to be thought of as more than just icing on the cake is unimaginable.

Source: A for Aleph

Renowned percussionist/ drummer Aziz Kazi of Coke Studio fame and the team at A for Aleph have risen up to the challenge of producing the very first hang drum album to come out of Pakistan, Cacan. Taking a rather purist approach, Cacan is an instrumental album with the hang drum as the sole instrument. 'I initially wanted other instruments to be a part of it. But after much discussion with Umair (producer) and Anas ( producer) we decided otherwise. We want the audience to experience the instrument in its entirety,' Aziz said.

'While we used many sources to record the instrument, what you hear is a single-track recording. That was the idea to get a very pure and intimate experience of listening to the handpan in the most natural way' he added.

With the hang drum itself coming from a family of melodic percussive instruments, to add varying layers even if it were to be in an accompanying role would rob the listener of an immersive experience, both the artist and producers believe.

Source: A for Aleph

'It's not just a percussive instrument, it has notes on it. The instrument itself has a lot of layers to it. This isn't like any other hang drum album. We have taken the time to explore the instrument from every angle,' said Umair Dar one of the producers of the album.

Aziz believes that the minute imperfections are as necessary as the melodic structure, for a wholesome experience. 'At some points, you'll feel it's not tuned or off time. But that's the...