Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali
Reviewed by Sadie O., 10/18/05
Seven very long recordings of the ecstatic vocal gymnastics of the renowned Pakistani Sufi singer. Unfortunately, although the accompanying materials do a nice job of giving the bio of Khan himself, it seems to mention nothing about the circumstances of the recordings themselves. I think it’s likely that the names mentioned beside each song on the back cover refer to other vocalists, as numbers seem to be duets or have backing chorus. Instrumentation on disk 1 seems to consist entirely of tabla and harmonium (a sort of upright squeezebox). Disk 2 has plucked and blown instruments in later cuts.
FCC – as if! Track 1 on disk 2 is a nice upbeat piece, others are better for more meditative breaks and are REALLY long.
Disk 1:
1. 18:56 starts with tabla, then a bit of the Indian harmonium, which sounds rather like zydeco, then vocal duet. Vocals seem to slide from channel to channel. Very minimal musical backing from harmonium, no tabla again until several minutes in. Builds in energy until the last few seconds, ends slow.
2. 28:38 vocals and harmonium almost in unison at times. Vocals are often almost call and response or back up chorus. Sort of a catchy chorus, actually. Builds energy considerably during the half hour.
3. 18:28 perky instrumental intro, then vocal duet of “ah”, then vocal duet with female singer and harmonium, no rhythm at all for several minutes. Gets quite fast, vocals doing some tabla beats.
Disk 2:
1. 12:56 starts out with upbeat tabla and harmonium, sounds like folk music, then duet vocals “aaah”, then some expounding/singing, then duet with music. Overall very joyous sounding with a few voices in backing chorus and lots of tabla.
2. 14:53 slow and mournful sounding, no instrumental intro. Builds tempo and energy considerably, ends slow
3. 14:30 strummed instrument that sounds a bit like a civilized banjo. Fairly slow with backing chorus.
4. 30:10 slow, multi-instrumental (plucked and blown instruments, tabla), vocals come in after a couple minutes. Rather melancholy, and quite the devotional marathon.