Marcel Khalifé & Mahmoud Darwish, "Fall of the Moon/ Suqut al-Qamar"
Nagam Records (2012) ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN Reviewed by Abu Ramses

Oud master & singer Marcel Khalifé, “the Arab Bob Dylan,” with the Al Mayadine Ensemble he founded in 1976 & the Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Sirinko put poetry of the late Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish (1949-2008) to music. Khalifé’s oud playing & vocals, even with western orchestration, are unpretentious - an emblem of progressive Arab culture. The 2 CD album is Khalifé’s homage to Darwish. The music is highly emotional; Khalifé regards Darwish as his “heart's artistic twin.” Lyrical themes, like a self-composed eulogy, examine exile, loss & the delicate connections between people passing quickly through life as well as exuberance for love & the erotic. Soloists: Oumeima Khalil & Yolla Khalifé, vocals; Rami Khalifé, piano; Bachar Khalifé, percussion; Peter Herbert & Mark Helias, double bass; Ismail Lumanovski, clarinet; Anthony Millet, accordion; Fabio Presgrave, cello; Mahmoud Tourkmani, guitar.

Try 4, 5, 8, 9

Disc 2
1. Fall of the Moon – ballet-like instrumental with Middle Eastern tonalities-7:24
2. A Song on My Mind – Upbeat, accordion, oud & strings; ensemble vocal - 5:01
3. Remember – Upbeat ensemble vocal, with clarinet - 1:57
4. Her Eyes – Upbeat Middle Eastern tonalities, ensemble vocal - 7:37
5. The Poem of the Land – big percussion, art-rock, like the Moody Blues; call & response vocals: “they shall not pass…over my dead body” - 3:57
6. Waltz for Rita's Winter – symphonic style orchestral piece with oud solo - 8:40
7. Palestinian Mawwal – Orchestral string intro, gunshot percussion, ensemble vocal - 4:31
8. The Most Beautiful Love – Upbeat, ensemble playing and singing - 6:48
9. In Damascus – Oud, kanun, ensemble vocal; Lyrics: a fugitive returns knowing nothing will ever be the same - 4:27