As 2024 draws to a close, The Guardian revealed its list of the year’s best albums, celebrating an eclectic array of global sounds. At the heart of this celebration is a poignant moment for Pakistani music: the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s posthumous album, Chain of Light, claimed the No. 1 spot, while Arooj Aftab secured the sixth spot with her Grammy-nominated album, Night Reign.

Decades after his passing, Khan remains an immortal voice in music. His posthumous release, Chain of Light, is a masterful compilation of four unreleased recordings from 1990 when Nusrat was on the brink of international stardom. The album delivered electrifying performances of qawwali standards like ‘Ya Allah Ya Rehman’ and the never-before-heard ‘Ya Gaus Ya Meeran’. The latter, a nine-minute epic, navigates complex rhythms and soaring improvisations, reminding listeners of Nusrat’s unmatched ability to transcend the spiritual and the musical. The Guardian lauded the album as “a remarkable discovery that cements Khan’s status as one of music’s great voices.”