Peter Culshaw – Surrender to Love

Peter Culshaw is a musician, author, actor, journalist, film-maker and traveller, who’s been friends with Malcolm McLaren, Derek Jarman and Gabriel García Márquez as well as being admired by David Bowie (RIP) and David Byrne.

Peter was previously involved with the groups Mira and West India Company before putting out 2023’s acclaimed solo debut Music From The Temple Of Light. His latest full-length Surrender to Love, is the soundtrack to the documentary SAMA: To Listen which according to the promotional notes, ‘explores the transformative power of Sufi music, drawing on personal reflections and diving deep into the ways in which music can transcend cultural boundaries’. The album is out on Trapped Animal, a label with an eclectic catalogue and I for one am intrigued.

‘Surrender To Love’ recalls Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) ‘Tube of Wonderful’ from Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy, largely instrumental with the odd emotive Vocal and a mellow, laid back melancholic feel, via the use of minimalist Piano playing, a beautiful opener. At a mere minute twenty two seconds ‘Ultima Praia’ is the shortest track here with the impressionist playing reminiscent of Claude Debussy, if you aren’t moved by it then you have no soul. Inspired by a night with the Helveti Jerrahis in Istanbul ‘Durga Piano’ was co-written with Turkish Jazz Guitarist Cenk Erdoğan. Durga translates to unstoppable and that’s certainly the impression one gets when listening to this beautific stream of consciousness that transports you to another spiritual dimension, divine. Having visited Istanbul I know Taksim to be a thriving hub for shopping and culture, but it also refers to an instrumental, unaccompanied improvisation in traditional Arabic, Turkish and Kurdish music. ‘Taksim New World’ therefore bridges the divide between the old and new with a quiet dignity that transcends consumer capitalism in favour of something a little more meaningful.

‘Melvana Moon’ is Jazz flavoured, along the lines of John Coltrane as well as underrated Guitarist Lenny Breau, therefore marking it out as my favourite track on the album. ‘Rabia's Dream’ as the title implies feels exactly that, a ‘dreamy’ number with gorgeous female Vocals that drift in and out at various points akin to a world music version of The Cocteau Twins. ‘Pastor Robinson’ feels like an extension of ‘Ultima Praia’, in terms of length and style, Debussy coming to the fore once more, (always a good thing). Considering we are now in December, ‘November Song’ still feels applicable, what with the nights drawing in earlier and the sombre, slightly depressive feel that accompanies it; the Gothic, mournful quality certainly appealing.

‘See Mine Flowers’ is a tearjerker, with the lush strings and minor chord piano playing (I think, I’m no musician), my heart bleeds when listening to it as it feels like a cry for freedom from tyranny, whether that’d be from the people in Iran (where I have roots), Venezuela or North Korea. ‘At The Blue Gate’ (Bab Boujiloud) sees Peter take more of a back seat to the Arabian inspired flute melodies reminiscent of the late, great Yusef Lateef on albums such as the appropriately named Eastern Sounds, while ‘ZiKr- Here To Go’ (which refers to the Islamic practice of remembering and glorifying Allah through repetitive phrases, prayers, actions), helps draw the album to a meditative and blissful conclusion.

As someone who rarely strays outside of the narrow western musical confines within which I’ve grown up, I’m not sure whether I’ve managed to convey just how majestic and beautiful this album truly is. But trust me when I tell you that it is, in spades. Check it out ASAP!