Arooj Aftab

Vulture Prince

To imagine, as we must, creative difference beyond mere difference, to find purchase in this abysmal interface of Worlds; to open oneself to the Other as other, to some kernel of that irreducible heterology; to unfurl, slowly, the Symbolic consistency of the self in the very act of grieving; and to do this all while avoiding the humanist trap of easy reconciliation—such is the juncture, the project, the work, to which Arooj Aftab finds herself assenting. Weaving harp, acoustic guitar, ... read more

vulture prince is an entrancing and deeply moving album, which finds clarity and tenderness in the bareness of its instrumentation while remaining emotionally rich and rewarding. although it is primarily guided by trauma and loss, arooj aftab's familiar voice renders her creation more like a wistful and bittersweet trip through the past. light dissonance creeps in then falters on Inayaat, which starts uneasy but resolves with its mesmerizing crescendo.

when it fades and she begins to introduce ... read more

Vulture Prince is a gorgeous love letter to loss, all centered around the immense talent of Arooj Aftab, a Pakistan-born composer who graduated from Berklee College of Music and resides in Brooklyn. Aftab is not a name I had ever come across until discovering her through NPR who lobbed a great deal of praise towards her third album. That praise was more than justified, as this gorgeous collection of songs are contemplative and soothing to the core.

Somehow sparse but resoundingly full, Vulture ... read more

It's so easy and comforting to get lost in all the various soundscapes in this record. The length of each song is not an issue at all. I was craving for more actually. I was in complete denial that such talent and voice exists in this planet. It's just so beautiful.