Since founding Lumin and Stellamara, Jef Stott developed a jones for Middle Eastern sounds; then went on to degree in anthropology and pen ethnographies of Morocco and Turkey. After working with music pros in those locales, as well as in Algeria, Egypt, Iran, and Tunisia, Stott added the influence of his S.F. tribal scene presence and live performance vibes to create Saracen, his first full-length release. Instead of taking a dance/dub base and plugging in Middle Eastern traditions here and there, he reverses the mix, producing contemporary Middle Eastern music. While Stott adeptly plays a host of native instruments and is a master knob-twiddler, he surrounds himself with indigenous musicians and vocalists and the results could blare out of Cairo marketplace speakers with nary an eyebrow raise.