Customer Reviews

Journey

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ethno-snobs have complained that Mursal "isn't authentic enough." Let's be clear on one thing - Maryam Mursal is not attempting to make tribal music here. In any case, who has the right to tell an artist what music she should make? Or what instruments she should use? Maryam Mursal's voice is like a powerful cobra, coiling and uncoiling without effort in a sinuous dance that hypnotizes and enchants. She is also a mature songwriter with a consummate grasp of her medium. I am sure she is destined to join the ranks of great African stars like Souad Massi, Cesaria Evora, Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Mall and others who have been lucky enough to reach international audiences.

To imply that this music has nothing to say because it uses Western instruments is to insult the indomitable spirit and huge talent of this wonderful woman.

The producers, Peter Gabriel and ACSS have done a terrific job with this dazzling singer. This is an enormously enjoyable, wonderfully produced record which I recommend most highly to all listeners. If this isn't exotic enough for you, then you are welcome to come sit in the dust of Africa with us and see how you like it. But if you want magical, uplifting music with an international flavour, then try this!

Maryam Mursal is not new to Somalians, but we are seeing and hearing her here for the first times. This CD has very heavy African vibes, but is very modern and incredibly moving (especially track number 3 in which she has hopes for her country)! I love this CD and if you like Rai (although that is not the catagory of this CD), I think you will enjoy this. I love Mursal and her spirit of survival through very hard times in her homeland! I would love to find more of her music - if anyone knows of where to find some imports - please contact me!

i study africa and african music, mostly east africa. fortunatly i have a house in Ethiopia next to somalis, and i have had the pleasure of hearing traditional somali music firsthand, while this strays a bit from it i admire the fact she is trying to reach a broader audience and not just somalis or africans. this is spectacular album, still not as good as ethiopian diva GiGi but very close.

As a cultural geographer one of the things that I love doing is being able to listen to music from various countries. I came into contact with this album at a time when I was doing extensive research on Somali culture. It came to a surprise. I bought the album not knowing anything about the music or the singer herself. I just wanted to be able to listen to the Somali language and hear authentic Somali music.
The music took time for me to get used to. I have come to appreciate this album. It is very intresting and for someone that knows nothing of this unique culture, The Journey gives you a little taste of the sounds and culture of Somalia.

I really enjoyed this cd especially Somali Udiida Ceb. It's quite different from East African Taraab music but I love this style too. I don't know if it is too mixed and not authentic enough but I thought it was very good. It would have been nice to hear more authentic Somali music,if this wasn't but still it's beautiful & worth buying!

I was wondering if someone could please translate the lyrics to Somali udiida ceb and Qax or at least give me a general idea of the lyrics!?! You see I know many Somalians but they are swahili speaking so they can't help and I'd be really interested to know. Jazakallahu. Assalamu alaikum.

I love this album. I've had it for years. When I first got it, I played the heck out of it. Then it went into cold storage for a long time. Now it's back. Lei Lei and Fejingo are fantastic tunes, full of fire and grace. But whatever happened to Maryam Mursal? There is only this one album by her that I can find and that is a sad state of affairs.

As a cultural geographer one of the things that I love doing is being able to listen to music from various countries. I came into contact with this album at a time when I was doing extensive research on Somali culture. It came to a surprise. I bought the album not knowing anything about the music or the singer herself. I just wanted to be able to listen to the Somali language and hear authentic Somali music.
The music took time for me to get used to. I have come to appreciate this album. It is very intresting and for someone that knows nothing of this unique culture, The Journey gives you a little taste of the sounds and culture of Somalia.

First time listening to a Somali CD and I was quite impressed. Most of the songs are extremely likeable but I enjoyed track 3 the most.The mixture of styles vary, surprisingly there was a bit of chinese, a bit of bluegrass but the most emotive part was the lyrics, perhaps because I could understand most of it.

As far as afro pop goes, this is probably in the top percentile by my measure. A lot of african pop is ruined by too much cheap synth, and this is not. Each track tends to blur into the next, however, and the overall effect of the disc is a bit muddy. It makes for an excellent source for mixes, it conveys some real emotive power, and the harmonies are lovely, but I think you really have to like this stuff from the get go for the disc to work as a while.

Or maybe understanding the lyrics would help...

i bought this, and Afro Celt Sound System's Vol. 2 at the same time- i listen to this cd more