Muktalef (Different)

Oriental Mood, Muktalef (Different) (Zidan Records, 2011)
ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN Reviewed by Abu Ramses

Egyptian-born vocalist Fatma Zidan trained in classical harp. She has turned to more popular music and now lives in Denmark. She features prominently as a guest with Oriental Mood, a 5 piece band with Bilal Irshed on oud; Lars Bo Kujahn on tabla and qanun; Claus Mathiesen on clarinet; Paulo Villegas on percussion; Martin Krogh on bass and Hadji Tekbilek on ney (flute). Repertoire ranges from singing inspired by the Andalucian tradition to salsa, rock, and Arabian-bossa nova fusion. A mash-up with a lot of concessions to western taste. If you can do it, album should be pronounced Mukhtalef (with a kha).

Try 1, 6, 8, 10

Tracks

1. Muktalef – klezmer style instrumental with Bossa Nova moments. Totally unexpected. Best on the album (IMHO) - 3:16
2. Agaban Ghezalan (approx. Pleasing Love) – drum, march intro, then mid-tempo Zidan vocal 3:32
3. Arab - qanun and clarinet feature in an instrumental Arabic-jazz fusion - 4:10
4. Villa – bosa nova beat with clarinet and qanun opening, slows at about 1:50 and then resumes opening theme - 4:32
5. Li Me Netu (I wish)-up-beat Zidan vocal, Arab pop beat & instrumentation -4:12
6. Lucky Number – begins with up-beat Egyptian pop style, then klezmer clarinet & violin and more Arabic style qanun solo - 3:42
7. This face – mid-tempo, bossa nova beat, vocal - 4:49
8. Aslan (Originally) – Belly dance beat with clarinet foregrounded, Arabic tabla drum and qanun solos - 4:09
9. Nassam Aleyna – mid-tempo vocal. Cover of a Lebanese tune made famous by Fairuz. Zidan sings it as Fairuz would - 3:46
10. Tarabeza-mid-tempo instrumental with qanun solos & klezmerish clarinet. Slows considerably around 2:00 - 5:36
11. Yoma (mommy) – Egyptian pop and belly dance fusion & Zidan vocal - 4:39