Born in Algeria and now based in Paris, Mehdi Haddab is a virtuoso of the ­ancient classical Arabic lute, the oud – and is determined to show that this is an instrument that can match the ­guitar for its range and versatility. As a ­member of the experimental DuOud, Haddab has already proved that the oud can cover anything from soul to electronica, and now comes a furious display of all-out oud rock. Backed by bass, percussion, electronics and guitar, he sets out to match the furious rai-rock fusion work of Rachid Taha, with Taha himself joining in on vocals for the stomping treatment of the Cure's Killing An Arab. This is a band at its best when balancing North African and western styles while ­allowing Haddab's taut and attacking oud solos to dominate proceedings, as with the treatment of another British pop favourite, the Chemical Brothers' Galvanize, or the taut mix of oud, guitar and electronics on the opening Taq on the Beat. The band are less interesting or distinctive when they slow down for the half-­spoken, English-language mood piece Erotic Chiftetelli or ignore the oud for the rock guitar work-out on Dubai, ­despite some bravely critical lyrics on life in the Gulf.