Gaudi + Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Les Savy Fav…
Gaudi + Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Bethe Bethe Kese Kese [MP3]
Blending the imcomparable vocals of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with traditional instrumentation and a full spectrum of reggae and dub elements, Gaudi has sensitively created a set of completely new tracks from a collection of recently discovered and rare studio sessions, recorded in Pakistan in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Dub Qawwali once again brings to life one of the most powerful and moving voices of our time in an exciting new context.
Les Savy Fav
The Equestrian [MP3]
The Cave Singers
Seeds of Night [MP3]
Lisa Germano
Paper Doll [MP3]
The Mendoza Line
Aspect of an Old Maid” (Alternate Version) [MP3]
Comments
This is one of the top world music albums that I have heard in a long time ... there are so many `world fusion’ projects out there and so many of them fall short of the mark… Dub Qawwali has most definitely exceeded expectation for me… not only is it musically beautiful but also original in it’s combining of old and new, east and west, sacred and secular… not a project to be undertaken by the faint hearted but an album that can be enjoyed by anyone.
To make this album Gaudi was given access to rare and unreleased vocal recordings of `The Emperor of Qawwali’ Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan from the 60’s and 70’s (info from the cd sleeve) by Khan’s former record label Rehmat Gramophone. With them he has created, in my opinion, something really very special. What struck me first about this production is the seamless integration of old vocals and brand new musical composition… it sounds as if the tracks were voiced yesterday by Nusrat specifically for the project, not 35 years ago on the other side of the world for another purpose. This for me is a testament not only to Gaudi’s skill as a producer but also to his musical sensitivity and respect for the work of this great Qawwal.
Sceptics of this project needn’t be… what may be required is a little lateral thinking ... the spiritual cultures of Sufism and Rastafarianism may not immediately seem to be natural partners, most obviously in the musical manifestation of their beliefs… however at closer inspection I believe there is a strong commonality..
...The reaching of spiritual highs and ecstatic states through musical expressions of peace, love, tolerance and the celebration of a greater guiding force is most certainly common to both ...even if the tempo and instrumentation is different… To explore this in music is not only courageous but requires a sensitivity and respect for both cultures that I believe is 100% present in Dub Qawwali.
10/10
Groove Reviewer
Comment by Groove Reviewer from London, UK — August 26, 2007 @ 12:39 pm