Customer Reviews

Master of the Arabian Flute

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Gosh, this sounds just like the wind coming off the desert. The low, undulating sound of the Arabian flute is not your everyday woodwind. This CD is so good, it should become a New Age popular standard. I'm not kidding--this is some wonderful stuff here.

The first cut is called "Whispers" ("Hams") and is slow, low and soft, though not as soft as to be inaudible. It's like a thought meandering through your head--or a dream of a visit to the Middle East. "Dam-A Men Oyoun Sood" ("Teardrops from Black Eyes") is higher pitched, feminine but not maudlin--you can imagine the slow drip of tears from eyes behind a veil. "Raqs el-Kahyyalah" is "Dancing of Horses" --a great slow dance or movement tune. Next to "Hams", "Monagah" or "Prayers" is my favorite on the album--this is a very low-toned slow and meditative piece.

If you are a massage therapist, operator of a spa, or if you do yoga, dance or exercise that requires moody music with a slower pace, I STRONGLY recommend this CD to add to your playlist. It's of the New-Age mold but not cliche in the least, giving this CD a unique yet contemporary sound that I found hypnotic and utterly delightful.

Mohamed Natem
Master of the Arabian Flute
ARC Records EUCD1852
www.arcmusic.co.uk
Few in the U.S. unconditionally crave Arab music right now, because Arabs are the Official Enemy. We are the nation that renamed sauerkraut "Liberty Cabbage," stopped teaching German in public high schools and prohibited the works of Wagner from performance spaces during the First World War. It was well over a quarter century after the end of World War II that we forgave Germans and Japanese enough to buy their manufactured goods(though, in fairness, our Marshall Plan had built their manufacturing facilities). Given this part of our general nature, it is going to be some time before Arab music taps many American toes.
If you can give Mohamed Natem a chance, though, you may be very pleasantly surprised. He is sensitive and dexterous on his earthy, breathy instrument, and the backing is not only rational(producer Hossam Ramzy's trademark), but lush; even orchestral. String sections and organ lend a classical, western foundation to the eight tunes here.
Islamic art avoids depictions of living things, instead attempting to capture moods, geometric figures and Nature's essense. The songs on this CD, titled "Whispers," "Dawn," "Teardrops from Black Eyes," "Prayer," "Dancing of the Horses," "Happiness and Celebration," "Fantasia" and "Accepting the Light," are squarely within that tradition. Again, if you can give this music a chance, this reviewer urges you to add it to your music library soonest.

I'm a huge fan of the Arabian flute and this CD did not disappoint me. I play it over and over for its transportive atmospheric quality. Anyone who hasn't checked out Arabian flute music should buy this CD. It's well worth it!