Omar Souleyman‘s work has been oddly embraced by the Western independent dance and rock communities seemingly since Pitchfork started writing about his Sublime Frequencies-released albums about five or six years ago. It makes sense, though, that considering how much the West hears and talks about the Middle East and how little most Westerners actually understand its people and culture, that open-minded communities would look for an artist who could serve as a musical link between worlds. Souleyman has, for many, become just that, and as a result, the Syrian artist has gone from singing at weddings to playing international rock clubs and festivals, and working with acclaimed producers Four Tet and Modeselektor. Bahdeni Nami, his new album on the latter’s label Monkeytown, comes out July 27th, and Souleyman will be hitting up Le Poisson Rouge on May 22nd (with Toronto freak folk duo Tasseomancy, who are also great).