It was easy for the Joubran brothers to keep it in the family---music is all they've known since birth. Born to one of Palestine's most famous luthiers and a mother that sang in the Arabic poetry form Muashahat, the classical sounds of the oud were born into their consciousness at birth. While each has experiences as solo performers, Randana marks the first pairing of Samir, Wissam and Adnan. The eldest Samir has five records under his belt and has toured worldwide spreading his Arabic gospel; Wissam has followed in his father's footsteps, constructing all the ouds these brothers play; and the youngest Adnan is considered as prodigious as any of them. As you can imagine, with this sort of history, Randana is masterful in execution and selection. Derived from the Arab words for resonance (ranna) and humming (dandana), it is a fitting moniker for the mournfully soft and vividly colorful ground this trio covers. The 18-minute "Safar" is an emotional escapade all its own: plaintive strings seduce the listener up front, pulling them into a hypnotic stupor. The deeper you go, the more intense the playing. Throughout the song---as is the case with all acoustic oud performances---silence becomes the main vehicle in which declarations are made. The three brothers are psychically dexterous, running through scales fluidly, gracefully. By the end of "Safar" a lifetime of emotion has been canvassed, sheer virtuosity explored rhythmically and quietly. This is why music is cathartic: it is the play of oppositions constantly engaged. And if one word summates the strength of Randana, it is certainly engagement.