Egypt music reviews

I will bet you a thousand cows for this Music.Very very Good...A++++++++

This belly dance drum music is sensational and sexy! The rhythms are hypnotic, arousing, and potent. One doesn't need to be a belly dancer to enjoy this music.

A small group of friends and I like to drum together. A few of us are also dancers. Sitting out by the fire it often seems like we just can't quite bring to mind any rhythms that meet everyone's needs. This CD is going to be a great help.

We sure aren't pros and may never be anywhere close to this, but it will certainly help us strive in that direction.

Tamally Maak is such a hot song, it has been ripped off by both Pakistani and Indian singers. A rip off version was even featured in the Indian movie "Murder". We all know that Amr Diab is the original and his music never bores the listener. Even if you don't know Arabic, you will enjoy his songs.

I dont know arabic, however this Album is soo captivating. There is some kind of magic in Amr Daib's voice. This CD is a must for music lovers!!!

I visited Egypt last year (wonderfull country and people). I've discovered this singer and my wife and I can't stop to listenning it. It is just absolutely awesome. Why this singer is not promotize on other countries?

Nothing I can say about this CD will do it justice; it's superb. Simultaneously complex, clean, hypnotic, seductive, and reverant. El Din's voice and singing are impeccable and the instrumental work is brilliant.

If you enjoy this CD, then I highly recommend the work of Catherine Braslavsky and Joseph Rowe, particularly the CD "From Jerusalem to Cordoba". [...]

After seeing PASSION OF THE DESERT (which I saw ten times I was so mesmerized) I immediately bought this album which is the background of the movie. The song I could hear forever was "Helalisa" which reminds me of the great movie. Hamza is one of the greatest Middle Eastern musicans ever--it's the simplicity of just the oud and his sultry voice.

Hamza El Din is one of those amazing performers that you have been searching for your entire life. His vocal and musical abilities are sublime. At the same time, his music sounds both ancient and accessible. Hamza's music is meditational. The songs will gently paint pictures in your mind of the rolling Nubian desert scenery. Much is said of his musical abilities, but the rhythm is also a highlight as the doumbeks and handclaps add to the trance inducive sounds. His voice is very deep (like an Egyptian Johnny Cash) and his oud style expressive. Traditionally, the oud is an accompanying instrument and is almost never played by itself and usually does little or no improvisation. It is Hamza who can maintain the integrity of this music while being an innovator at the same time.

For those of you who know the Grateful Dead, you will know that the band worked with Hamza beginning with their trip to Egypt in 1978. Throughout the 70s and 90s, Hamza joined the band on stage many times -and for good reason. In the new millennium, Hamza still plays with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum.

Hamza has many great albums like "Songs of the Nile" (JVC, 1982) and "Lily of the Nile" (Water Lily Acoustics, 1990) but this is his best. While I've heard a few songs here played on other albums, there's something special about "Eclipse." The only explanation is producer Mickey Hart.

Did you know that the oud is the root instrument where the modern electric guitar comes from? Travel back to your roots, to the collective roots of humanity and listen to something that is both ancient and timeless.

I COMPLETELY concur with Brendanna's assessment as well as the others: turn the lights out, light a bunch of candles, and let the music from this cd create the rest of the atmosphere. Its hypnotic and erotic. Each time you listen you hear different instrument elements. I'm definitely going to look for more of this artist combination of Phil Thornton and Hossam Ramzy. Hossam is the percussion king in my book. The horns in the title track "Immortal Eqypt" are awesome, it leads the imagination to picture an ancient Egyptian celebratory procession through ancient city streets with all the pomp and circumstance these events beheld. My girlfriends love to entertain with belly dancing to this track, I love it!! Unfortunately, my cd got stuck in my car's player!! Fortunately I had already dubbed it to the pc. Definitely a good listen if you're a world music lover who appreciates the sophisticated blend of the modern and the ancient traditional. For parties I like to play different music in each congregation space, this definitely gets heavy rotation.

Immortal egypt is a brilliant album. I would recommend it to everyone interested in any middle eastern music. It has everything. Its so beautiful i listen to it a lot!!!!

Its really something you should have in your collection. I like all kinds of music, and this one works for me to. My mind flows with every rythm of the songs.... It opens up your imagination to do whatever you want... specially if you are playful and kinky..haha... What I really mean is that you just need to turn off the lights, light on a bunch of candles and let the music make the rest.... just listen to it and it will tells you what to do. dance, breath, stretch, pray, anything. As for me, I would recommend you the tracks:
1. At The Gates Of The Citadel
3. Last Words By The Temple
4. Morocco Dance
6. El Moulid
7. Praying For Rain
8. Emerald Minarets In A Sea Of Stars
9. Sunrise Over Giza
10. Immortal Egypt
Enjoy the trip.

Hamza El Din is quickly becoming famous. I bought this album first and really liked it but it was not until I saw PASSION IN THE DESERT that I really began to appreciate his mastery in a new light. All his albums are great.

"A wish" is a master piece. I listened to some reviews about Hamza El Din prior to purchasing the CD and I thought that all excellent comments were still uderstatements to the beauty of this music. Highly recommended.

A WISH conveys a maturity in Hamza's stylings. I'm glad to see he's still creating such treasures as on this album.

If you like instrumental Music, Arabic, Western Classicas and Jazz ,then this is one of the best mixture of Middle Eastern ( Mediterranean ) and Western Classics & Jazz Music I have ever heard, it is like a fresh breath of air. I highly recommend it. I hope Mr.Simon Shaheen produces more such a wonderfull Music in near future.

Simon Shaheen is a true master of the oud and a brilliant composer. His treatment of the oriental and western musical heritage is respectful while in the same time managing to be genuinly innovative. A feat that needs a true master of improvisation to be accomplished. His virtuosity in the art of taqasim and his sensitivity towards western music reminds me of the skill and power of Udi Georgo Bacanos, the legendary turkish oud master that set the standard for generations to come. Whether you like traditional oriental music, multi-cultural jaming or time honoured jazz this album should satisfy you completely.

Shaheen's amazing talent fuses middle eastern melodies with rythmic, soulful jazz - creating an album that is a joy to listen to and that has a soothing effect on the soul.
Buy this album - let the music take you to different shores ~ truly, a brilliant compilation of art at its best!

Amr Diab does not waste any time and starts this album with Habibi (Ya Nour El Ain), the greatest hit in recent Middle East memory; its infectious rhythm and melody will put a hook into your brain good and firm once you hear it. The second song, Amarain, possibly my favourite on this album, is sort of the same thing... and so is the rest of the album. While newcomers to Arabic pop may find the whole lot exotic enough, for me it began to feel repetative enough after few songs. Khaled's contribution on the third track is cool but the whole song is uneven- his voice is way too good to be used in such a ditty. Overall, this is a good collection of Amr's songs, but not more than this. Western ears may need to adjust to the quarter tones scale and the sound of the strings, but it is well worth it. And once you're ready for a close to perfect album of this type of music, check out Mandam Aleyk by Nawal el-Zoghbi.

amr diab's music/voice is simply incredible. his music as one review put it...goes right through your body. i cannot understand arabic, nor does one have to be middle eastern to really get into this guy's groove of tunes. i am an american who loves music from around the world and amr and his music is so incredible. my favorite... as another review says: it makes you want to know the language...it's so romantic and so cool. you can almost feel what he's singing .. i love this guy!
keep up the great work amr !

this is a fantastic cd full of fantastic songs. when i listen to these beautiful songs i regret that i can't understand arabic. this cd only could be a reason for anyone to learn arabic and to get to know more about the arabic culture. great music. i send my congratulations to everyone who contributed to these songs in the arab world...

Fela Kuti is simply too much! His music is among the absolute best I know. The combination of his powerful messages and moving instrumentals are beyond description.

fela is one of the very few musicians who refuse to be silenced... even the nigerian govt. could'nt, sadly baba has left us but the legend of his music lives on..... when I was much younger i had the one in a lifetime opportunity to visit his shrine at Ikeja, Lagos.......brilliant, breathtaking, soul warming music, I even got grounded for going because I was but a young girl then and young nigerian girls should not be caught at Fela shrines back home ....but then again I never regretted it he is great, outspoken a proper basket mouth, you have to be nigerian or understand the language to decipher some of what he says but someone with a true appreciation of highlife and its main men would love this......truly nigerian,......thruthful and sometimes saddening....what shall we do without him....well done amazon for feauturing him in your collection..for there is trully noone like Baba himself.

How and where do you begin to analyze"Baba"?Fela,through his music addresses you at your core.A realm that transcends the intellect. Play your Fela tape/cd,relax,let go and allow Fela to guide you into"another underground spiritual--"heaven. "short break"

I second all the rave reviews featured above. However, I should add for the record: this CD is sometimes labelled (as mine is) as "IMMORTAL SOUNDS: A Musical Journey Through Ancient Egypt", published through Antenna Audio, Inc., CA. I found the recording at the New Orleans Museum of Art when a large travelling exhibit of Egypitan art and artifacts was on display. The music served as the background for the audio guide (under narration by Jeremy Irons) and was sold in the gift shop with the tour's other goods. I was trying to find info on the CD, and when I couldn't find it under that name, I got redirected to this entry. I thought I'd just clarify! :o)

But yes, indeed - beautiful, serene, and indeed ethereal music!

Hello,

Ambient Egypt brings ancient Egyptian music to life.
I would rate this CD as highly as these other ancient Egyptian music reconstructions, Michael Atherton`s Ankh and Ali Jihad Racy`s Ancient Egypt. In my opinion the strengths of this CD are the use of authentic reconstructed instruments which have as Irvine states: "the potential to create new music".

A masterpiece in instrumental music replicated from Ancient Eqypt.

WATER WHEEL describes the experiences of the boy who keeps the water wheel going: the fugue grows and the oud draws on Nubian classical tradition to back its rhythmic melody.
�A specialty item for avid oud enthusiasts.

Hamza el Din is one of the world's greatest musicians. Those familar with music from Africa and the Middle East may have heard similar sounds, but nothing quite approaches the traditional music of Nubia. The Nubians, who played a vital role in Egyptian history from pre-dynastic times into the Christian era, have long inhabited the lands in southern Egypt/northern Sudan for as long as anyone can remember, and cling fiercely to their proud history. Hamza el-Din embodies all that is great and ejoyable about Nubian music. Its lively and exotic, and yet at the same time easily approached. One thing to note here, the oud (on which Hamza is self-taught btw) is not a traditional Nubian instrument. It is an Arab instrument, but Hamza plays it in a uniquely Nubian way.
If you appreciate the music of Africa and/or the Middle East, then check this CD out. Its well worth the buy, and is likely unlike anything you've ever heard.

I could listen to it all day. The artist is a natural and rare genius. I love you Hamza!