El Tanbura – Between the Desert and the Sea
Reviewed by Sadie O., 3/26/09
Egyptian Sufi/folk music featuring an ancient lyre, hand drums and vocal chorus. Very roots, very different from most music in Arabic we hear (nothing like Gnawa, almost nothing like bellydance music, only slightly akin to Arabic pop music.) Very lovely stuff.
All in Arabic or related languages – can’t imagine any FCCs.
Mostly very similar in sound, and very well played. I like 4 best.
1. 4:27 **solo doumbek intro, then swirling strings and flute, singing in unison. Tribute to a revered musician.
2. 4:01 **uptempo, unsyncopated folk tune, pretty love song.
3. 4:30 **sweet strings, folk song about being overly love-prone.
4. 4:31 ***swingy uptempo percussion, mysterious vibe, Bedouin/Nubian desern song, featuring “tabletop percussion” and an ancient Egyptian style harp. Also impassioned vocals and gorgeous flute…
5. 4:54 **swaying doumbek and strings, modern folk song about the Suez Canal. Handclaps reflect the feel of a work song.
6. 2:29 **pretty solo simsimiyya (lyre) and vocals, rather mournful sounding, but apparently giving thanks for the Earth’s blessings and warning not to abuse them.
7. 3:42 **full band and chorus again, two folk songs from Egypt and the Sinai.
8. 4:16 *solo lyre intro, solo vocals with ethereal echoes, Sufi devotional song.
9. 4:08 **uptempo, upbeat gypsy tune. Has elements of bellydance, but the lyre gives it a soft edge.
10. 3:55 **rhythmic hand claps, lyre and chorus – apparently very ancient song.
11. 4:15 *slow and lovely lyre solo, no percussion for first minute and a half, sad and soulful vocals, Bedouin song of separation.