Customer Reviews

Eclipse

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
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Hamza El Din is one of those amazing performers that you have been searching for your entire life. His vocal and musical abilities are sublime. At the same time, his music sounds both ancient and accessible. Hamza's music is meditational. The songs will gently paint pictures in your mind of the rolling Nubian desert scenery. Much is said of his musical abilities, but the rhythm is also a highlight as the doumbeks and handclaps add to the trance inducive sounds. His voice is very deep (like an Egyptian Johnny Cash) and his oud style expressive. Traditionally, the oud is an accompanying instrument and is almost never played by itself and usually does little or no improvisation. It is Hamza who can maintain the integrity of this music while being an innovator at the same time.

For those of you who know the Grateful Dead, you will know that the band worked with Hamza beginning with their trip to Egypt in 1978. Throughout the 70s and 90s, Hamza joined the band on stage many times -and for good reason. In the new millennium, Hamza still plays with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum.

Hamza has many great albums like "Songs of the Nile" (JVC, 1982) and "Lily of the Nile" (Water Lily Acoustics, 1990) but this is his best. While I've heard a few songs here played on other albums, there's something special about "Eclipse." The only explanation is producer Mickey Hart.

Did you know that the oud is the root instrument where the modern electric guitar comes from? Travel back to your roots, to the collective roots of humanity and listen to something that is both ancient and timeless.

Hamza's Eclipse is his best album. Only 5 tracks but each is a gem. Song #3 Olin Arageed is a Nubian wedding song played once in a person's lifetime as they exchange their vows. You can almost feel thousands of years of history as you listen to it. All of Hamza's albums are great - but sound similar to each other. If I were to buy just one, Eclipse is the way to go. Produced by Mickey Hart it sounds terrific and somewhat slick - but not overly so.

If you have been interested in Middle-Eastern/North African music but don't know where to start--open your world and buy this amazing CD from one of the masters of the oud! This is a very powerful recording. Close your eyes and experience the silky sounds of the oud, El Din's voice, and a wonderful track in which rhythmic hand clapping is taken to a new level.

After seeing PASSION OF THE DESERT (which I saw ten times I was so mesmerized) I immediately bought this album which is the background of the movie. The song I could hear forever was "Helalisa" which reminds me of the great movie. Hamza is one of the greatest Middle Eastern musicans ever--it's the simplicity of just the oud and his sultry voice.

Nothing I can say about this CD will do it justice; it's superb. Simultaneously complex, clean, hypnotic, seductive, and reverant. El Din's voice and singing are impeccable and the instrumental work is brilliant.

If you enjoy this CD, then I highly recommend the work of Catherine Braslavsky and Joseph Rowe, particularly the CD "From Jerusalem to Cordoba". [...]

Discovered this via a Rykodisc compilation and was smitten. I don't understand the lyrics but it doesn't matter. The oud and his voice are a wonderful pairing. I love you, Hamza.

Hamza el Din is a fine artist. I listen to his music everyday. Gentle and deep. Wonderful. Perfect.

The grat El Din Hamza shows here how an oud player and his voice can swings like a jazz thing. Believe me or not the fact is that this wonderful music has a beat ,deep beat , that you can assimilate to the swing thing . A must for any open minded ear .

Hamsa El Din is a beautiful person and it shows through his music. His passing from this plane was a great loss to all. I enjoy this CD as well as his many others. I think that if you are a lover of Nubian music, you will enjoy this offering, or if you are not familiar with the genre will find it a good one to start with!

Sit back, relax, and let the music take you wherever. El Din's music is haunting, mesmerizing, and beautiful.