Duo of Oud and frame drums, cymbals, take on a slight western tinge but avoid any crappy “new agey” watering down that such formula usually results in. Some seriously lovely stuff. In case “oud and frame drums” doesn’t mean anything to you: traditional middle eastern instruments. The recording is western: quality top notch, the sentiment takes on the urgency and clarity of western music perfectionist, a la McLaughlin’s Shakti, and there is a certain gravitation to melodic hooks, a western thing. But its traditional and I’m realizing as I type I might have passed this by Decca first, a testament as to the traditional stylings of this. Dreamy stuff for sure, demonstrating the beauty of these instruments, the skill of the players.

1) upbeat, melodic but not overtly western, pleasant 2) tad darker, tribal minor, cool
3) slower sexy, pretty, slow hip swinging loveliness
4) almost a catchy “spy” melody, hook
5) slow deep, darker feel
6) oud heavy and slow, percussion comes in later and it picks up
7) 2 minute slow intro then a drum kit appears and it takes on a western feel, almost a jam, minor and hypnotic
8) a minor toned somewhat improv feel, mid to upbeat featuring oud picking
9) slow and sexy, like a snake dance at half speed, drugged out