Julmud, a Palestinian producer and rapper, has released his first full length album Tuqoos through Bilaes. Bilaes is a label and art collective that focuses primarily on musicians and artists in Palestine. According to his Bandcamp, Tuqoos, which was produced in Ramallah, Palestine, “pushes up against otherwise inaccessible space, resisting the conditions of a body in capture through sounds that morph, slip through and create breaks in times and spaces that remain occupied.”

So what does it mean to make art exhibiting freedom as an act of resistance in the space of occupation?

For Julmud, it is a joyfully complex affair in which the artist asks the question “What is home?” Over its 15 tracks, Tuqoos explores the idea of constantly shifting space and boundaries as set by other people. It is a multi-layered album filled with traditional Arabic sounds fused with hip-hop beats and even industrial frequencies.

The tracks journey from psyched out and chill to grimy and cold to fiery and passionate. The tone of Tuqoos is all over the place but in the best way possible. Julmud creates a consistent atmosphere throughout but explores the bounds of that space from earth to sky without settling into routine or repetition. This is high praise for a largely instrumental album in which tracks can’t lean on vocal hooks to stand out.

This is an album that defies expectations over and over again. I went in thinking I was going to experience a Palestinian hip-hop album. As an underrepresented place in the public sphere, especially in arts, this did pique my interest. In reality there are only a handful of tracks with vocals. But when they do drop, the bars hit hard. Although I couldn’t find an English translation of any of the lyrics, the emotional gravity is apparent.

The syncopated drum rhythms throughout the album kept ticking a box in my brain. I couldn’t figure out what they were reminding me of, and then it hit me. The combination of drums, industrial noises, and spacey bass lines sounded like Danny Carey’s drumming in Tool. They specifically recall instrumental tracks like “Chocolate Chip Trip” and some of the longer interludes on Fear Innoculum. This was the last thing I thought I would associate with Middle Eastern electronic music. But both explore realms of rhythm and space far outside the regular bounds of music.

Listening to Tuqoos is like eating a complex soup. At first glance you may recognize elements in the dish and develop expectations. Then upon tasting, you develop an initial flavor profile as different taste buds light up. As you continue to eat, more flavors become evident. Hidden elements of salty, umami, fat, heat, acid reveal themselves, causing you to continue to return to the bowl for more. And like a good soup the flavors become richer over time.

Julmud has created something texturally special in Tuqoos. It draws attention not only to the reality on the ground in Palestine but also to the way it influences artistic expression. Connect with Julmud on Instagram and stream the album here.