Alif: Love Supreme

Omar Faruk Tekbilek | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B000060NUS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,721 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Middle Eastern Music Without Borders, June 1, 2003

By 

Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alif: Love Supreme (Audio CD)

Turkish master Omar Faruk Tekbilek (with Steve Shahen and a host of talented musicians from Iran, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Spain and Turkey) really goes beyond limitations here, creating some of the most beautiful, ephemeral music I have ever heard. Despite the obvious Turkish influences, this music incorporates a wide range of styles from across the Middle East; Anatolian folk, Rromani (Gypsy), Greek, Bulgarian, Sufi, Egyptian, Azeri and classical influences can all be felt here, amongst others. Spanish guitar mixes with the Turkish ney. Its so amazing. This really is pan-Middle Eastern music, worthy of the name "Alif". It represents the whole of Middle/Near Eastern culture. Mere words alone cannot describe the beauty and elegence of this music. From the very beginning, "Dulger" calls to mind images from the heyday of the Ottoman Empire, and you will be moved by songs like "Laundry Girl" and "Dark Eyes". "Alif", the title track, is absolutely haunting, and "Dadash" is simply filled with splendor and wonder. And from there it goes to the lively and exotic "Ya Bouy". If you appreciate Middle Eastern or Mediterranean music, then there isn't a single song on this CD that will disappoint you. A note on the songs, by the way, is that they come from various sources. "Dulger" and "Alif" were originally Sufi devotional pieces, "Take a Flight" and "Forbidden Love" are contemporary arrangements in traditional styles, "Ya Bouy" was composed by the legendary Farid al-Atrache, "Don't Cry My Love" and "Lachin" are both based off folk songs, and "Dadash" is a medley of Anatolian styles. The sheer scope and range of these pieces, and the fact that they mix and match elements of different cultures and styles, means that it will likely appeal to any fan of Middle Eastern music. Even those who have never listened to Turkish classical music or any other music from that region will likely find this to be a wonderful buy. I strongly recommend this CD.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous and Tasteful Fusion of Styles, July 6, 2002

By 

Diane M. Rabson "mcward" (boulder, co) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alif: Love Supreme (Audio CD)

Tekbelek performed here in Boulder. I had not heard his work and was immediately taken by it. I lived in Istanbul for a year in the late 60's and developed a lifelong taste for Turkish and other Islamic musics, stretching out to world traditionaol styles in general. I have hundreds of recordings of mostly traditional styles from around the world, and many form Turkey.

I find that Alif is probably the closest to what I heard in the concert. It is NOT entirely traditional in arrangement. However, what one reviewer described as "murky" synthesizer I hear as a remarkable fusion of Western harmonic concepts and Turkish/Islamic makam modal theory and practice, and I think it works gloriously. This is the most mesmerizing of his recordings. If you want strictly traditional arrangements with exclusively traditional acoustic instruments, don't buy this. If you want a bold yet enchanting fusion of synth harmonies and beautifully played traditional instruments, this is wonderful. I usually dislike synth washes over traditional musics, it is so tacky almost all the time, but not this time, not to my ear. Truly glorious.

And the vocals are stunning, not just Tekbelek's but a host of female singers who join him individually. His instrumental work remains impeccable as does that of his group, including the fine percussion work of Shehan. Listen to the samples...they will tell you what you need to know about the role of the synthesizer in the arrangements. Then buy it and be enchanted.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully sensual and dreamy...., January 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Alif: Love Supreme (Audio CD)

I am not familiar with Tekbilek's earlier work (but soon hope to be), however I can say with certainty that this is one of the best albums I have bought in a long time. It's incredibly sensual and highly emotional-- really touching. A must for fans of Arabic/World music.