Morocco music reviews

great compilation of arabian music from Morocco,Algeria,Tunisia,Egypt,Lebanon,Syria,Iraq,Kuwait,Qatar,Yemen and United Arab Emirates...The ideal Christmas gift for G.W.Bush to open up his mind to foreing culture.

Excellent,excellent,excellent,is all I can say. He shows us that he can masterfully mix the rhythms of gnawa with western and other musical styles while not taking away,and even adding to the hypnotic,spiritual,sensual music that is gnawa.I waith eagarly for his next album.It all remains to see if he can top the appropriately titled "The gift."

Of all the Jajouka albums, this one either my first or second favorite. I like first of all the chance to hear the compositions in fuller, more fleshed out, form. Each is around 20 minutes long and includes an introduction, the main composition (usually with a sung text) and a section where the Musicians attempt to outdo each other with their variations and melodic/rhythmic inventions. Each of the three tracks is also in a different style, the first featuring stringed instruments, the second the flutes, and the third the raitas (oboe-like instruments). Each style articulates its melodies in different ways.

But none of that would matter if the Musicians weren't feeling it, and they are feeling it very deeply here. You can tell that they are presenting the audience witnessing this concert with a true gift. At very least, it's their most joyful recording.

The Master Musicians of Jajouka are planning a new release for later in 2004. Be sure to look for it.

no words can describe this sensation ! just buy it and push the repeat button !

This is a recording of Jilala and Gnoaua music from Morocco. The CD begins with what sounds like a celebration in the street and all of the ambient sound of the festival becomes part of the musicality of the performance, including loud voices and car horns. What follows is a group of recordings that truly capture this culture's musical genius. The evolving rhythms and melodies invite the listener to explore the musical aesthetics and flavors of Moroccan culture. This music can be disorienting at times. The name "trance music" is appropriate, the circulating and spiraling rhythms can be almost hypnotic. This music will suprise you. I have made a conscious effort to explore Moroccan music and this CD continues to be my favorite. It is an excellent collection of high quality field recordings. There are other CD's that are more popular and might have benefitted from smarter marketing etc. but this recording has to be one of the best. Anyone curious about world music stands a good chance of being converted to the rank of 'enthusiast' after hearing this.

Seems to be just about exactly what I have been looking for

This record shows Jil Jilala in their late 80's/early 90's phase. This period shined by having the presence of Mohamed Derham within the band, but it disappointed by using electronic drums and percussions in the music. Although they still sound like traditional Moroccan acoustic drums (bendir, tbila, daadou' and taarija), them being always in time and always producing the same sound just adds that "fake factor" to the music. Other than that, the music really lives up to the name of Jil Jilala. I will not go into a song-by-song analysis, but Nour el Anouar, Salam Alaykoum, Ya Man Aana and El Mizane are great standouts, even comparable to their glorious legacy of the past. Unfortunately, after this period, Derhem left and the compositional skills of the band dropped down considerably.
Great CD, get it now!!!

This is one of the earlier recordings of genre-crunching musical explorations on the Barbarity label. Revolt Against reason is a fun world fusion record with elements of reggae, dub, techno, Rai, hip-hop as well as drums, string instruments, electric guitar and melodic sing-alongs that will impress many fans of rock. Despite the wide umbrella of influences, all the tracks are settled into an original sound that has a distinctive feel to it. Above it all, running throughout the umbrella lay a powerful message "The revolt against reason is the fight against scientists in the need of proving material existence through facts or terrestrial value. The Revolt against reason is a non-violent intifada. One highlight El Qouds (track #6) with the grungy electric guitar and haunting wailing vocals. That song is meant to be a call for peace between Arabs and Jews. The concept of world fusion is quite prevalent here being the idea to combine cultural influences because the world is getting figuratively smaller and humanity should working toward creating a global community dissolving ethnic prejudices. This music may seem strange on the first few listens but you will soon catch onto the rhythm. Recommended for those with adventurous musical tastes who enjoy funky mid-tempo beats.

This is one of the earlier recordings of genre-crunching musical explorations on the Barbarity label. Revolt Against reason is a fun world fusion record with elements of reggae, dub, techno, Rai, hip-hop as well as drums, string instruments, electric guitar and melodic sing-alongs that will impress many fans of rock. Despite the wide umbrella of influences, all the tracks are settled into an original sound that has a distinctive feel to it. Above it all, running throughout the umbrella lay a powerful message "The revolt against reason is the fight against scientists in the need of proving material existence through facts or terrestrial value. The Revolt against reason is a non-violent intifada. One highlight El Qouds (track #6) with the grungy electric guitar and haunting wailing vocals. That song is meant to be a call for peace between Arabs and Jews. The concept of world fusion is quite prevalent here being the idea to combine cultural influences because the world is getting figuratively smaller and humanity should working toward creating a global community dissolving ethic prejudices. This music may seem strange on the first few listens but you will soon catch onto the rhythm. Recommended for those with adventurous musical tastes who enjoy funky mid-tempo beats.

The Gnawa musicians on here are absolutely wonderful, this is one of the greatest Moroccan CD's I've ever heard. Why are so many of the finest Gnawa albums going out of print? It's sad & frustating. Anyway, if you can get your hands on a copy of this, you certainly should. The whole album consists of a live-to-tape performance of traditional ceremonial music. Quite stirring.

I do have to say, though, that it's more than a little misleading to call this a Randy Weston CD. He plays on less than 10 of the album's 70 minutes (he plays at the very end of the disc). And, to my way of thinking, it feels kind of tacked on, & doesn't quite gel--his piano playing just doesn't mesh with the traditional Gnawa music. Honestly, I usually turn the CD off when it gets to the last track. But apart from that, I think the CD's nearly flawless.

i met randy in tangiers in 1970 when i wandered into the african rhythms club and was totally transfixed by what i heard and then to speak with such a giant of talent completely swept me away. to hear this music again is like history coming back down the line. awesome. love judi

If you are interested in Middle Eastern dance, this is a great CD. For one thing, the cuts range from about 6 minutes long to almost 11 minutes long, plenty of music for continuous dancing. The music features a lot of violin and is softer-sounding than a lot of Middle Eastern music you might be familiar with. The mysterious The Bride "Look at me!" is very much like what you might hear in a Moroccan restaurant, intricate rhythm, violin and is the dance wedding guests all do to fete the newly-married couple.

Both instruments and musical style are perfect for re-creation of traditional-style Moroccan dances. No piece is shorter than four minutes, and the longest is ten minutes (ideal for "village" scenes). I'm fond of "Amul Koutchi" (Dear rag and bone man, please lets take everything and leave here), and the greeting dance also has a nice lilt to it. This is not the usual orchestra-with-big-drum-solo stereotype; those who explore dance ought to try this one.