Customer Reviews

Moroccan Spirit

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Having lived briefly in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia, I came to have an appreciation for Middle Eastern music. In particular, I found something "missing" when I returned, namely the five daily prayer calls that gave both countries a profound flavor of the exotic--from my own perspective, anyway--and my experience the sense of one of daring and excitement. Moroccan Spirit provides the listener with a feeling of "being there" while respecting some of the tonal appreciations of the Western ear. In essence it captures the modern popular and ancient folk music of Africa and the Middle East and combines them into a recording that is still pleasing to a Western audience. While the music doesn't quite sound like it's "off key" or "falling through the cracks in the scale" as the music heard in Egypt and Saudia, it still has enough of the exotic so that those listeners who are a little more traditional in their music tastes may not like it. On the other hand, those with Middle Eastern or African backgrounds themselves, may find it panders too much to Western tastes in music and is less "genuine" than they prefer their music. For the adventurous, though, it's a good first exposure to a musical genre that we don't often get to hear.

I completely agree with Faithe Arden's review. Upon first listening I thought Moroccan Spirit to be a true disappointment but after listening to it a couple more times it really grew on me. The album opens up with "Music For 1001 Nights" which is a bleak, haunting instrumental that captures the Moroccan essence to chilling perfection. More upbeat tunes ensue however with modern beats mixed in with the traditional to help enhance and elevate this otherwise contemplative piece of work. After Nadja Grapi "Ishran" awes and stuns everyone with the amazing "Derviche" though, which is also laden with drums and beats that are sure to get you grooving up from your chair, the tempo does a complete turn-around and becomes slow with meditative simplicities that are gorgeous and great to relax to!

The Brave, who also created Sacred Spirit, Indigo Spirit, B-Tribe and Rose Moore has won me over again with his newest addition to the Higher Octave label for he truly has succeeded in capturing the sound and the spirit of the Moroccan people and I highly recommend it to fans of chill out world/dance music.

I once read a book by a man who literally walked across the Sahara Desert. I was so transfixed by his account that I could not put the book down until I had finished it and I was extremely tired by the time I went to school the next morning. His tale inspired me so much that I wanted to know as much as I could about deserts in particular and in the North African area in general. When I went to University to read economics one of my areas of specialization was in Development Economics which illustrates the impact that his book made upon me.

Another great interest in my life has been what is now considered to be 'world music'. American readers may be aware of the WOMAD festival which has been held in England for at least thirty years devoted to this area. Mickey Hart, recently of the Grateful Dead, has done a wonderful service in bringing to western attention musiciansfrom other cultures and has allowed them to earn a degree of recognition which would have otherwise not been afforded. Peter Gabriel has provided a similar service in England along with the fanatical Andy Kershaw who was a prophet in the wilderness for so many years, but no longer.

This album is a little disappointing for all of the effort that has gone into it. It is a very pleasant album and very nice to listen too and certainly incorporates some good playing. I especially like the attemp to fuse the dance/techno thing to help make it more palatable to western ears. The trouble is that it ends up, to my ears anyway as a sort of nicey-nice new age type of sound with too much pandering to innocuous western tastes. Repeated listenings at home and in the car have not led to a reappraisal of that position.

May I suggest a remix?

I just received this CD and immediately played it.
WOW! At last, Arabic music from a westerner's perspective.
I live in Dubai, and have become annoyed by all the Lebo-pop we hear. This CD actually explores Arabic instruments in what I can only describe as 'emotional soundscapes'.
Pretentious I know, but difficult to describe in other words.
The artist is creating music in a similar vein to Roger Waters during his 'Floyd days. A sort of Dark Side of the Moon meets Lawrence of Arabia!! Final Note: Haunting, beautiful, and unusual (to the western ear).BUY IT!!

It's classic Middle Eastern melodic tones combined, sparingly, with some modern touches.

This is my "fly away" CD. After a long day at work I can sit and unwind with this music and envision camel caravans through the African deserts, busy street markets in Marrakesh, or some exotic belly dancers at some oasis.

Enjoy!

I completely agree "with jingles_sunderland" and "the music fan from charlotte, nc." This is actually quite nice to listen to, and the musical elements that the author has recorded are exquisite; however, I'm not sure if "the brave" made the best use of these wonderful raw sounds. Many songs sound more like pop, despite the authentic sounds of oud, etc. I love some pop, don't get me wrong, but at times it's something that I can't swallow. Track #4 has a beautiful beginning until the female starts singing. She just does not have a palatable voice and sounds like a western pop singer who is trying to emulate arabic singing. I understand what "the brave" tried to do here, but I juse call that "plastic."

Many other tracks are too deep-forest-like and somewhat synthetic, which does make it quite new age in a way. It somehow "spoils" the moroccan mood that is so nicely established in the beginning by the original oud playing and villager singing.

In addition, it is quite repetitive, but that would not be such a big deal if it weren't so synthetic. It follows an ABAB pattern as opposed to ABCAB or something similar.

There are however a few tracks that I enjoy listening to despite the repetition, and those are: 3. Jim i Nim, 5. Moussem of Regragas and 10. Moussem Mediouna.

As I said, great elements and makes good listening, but don't expect this to quench your 'moroccan thirst.'

Some good musical ideas here, slickly performed. The effect is marred by numbing repetition. With the exception of "Jim I Nim", the music is far removed from its source material, some of the tracks sounding phony and commercial. If you hate heavy breathing in your music, this is not the album for you.

The first time I listened to this album I was disappointed. It just did not seem to achieve the B-Tribe Spiritual, Spiritual level. However, after numerous listenings, I have changed my mind.

I love the beginning. It is so "earthy" and one can feel an exhilaration of life. I find myself actual dancing to a few numbers. But then beginning with Track 6, it changes. It sucks you into the vortex and the losing of oneself begins.

It is so great to hear "real" drums that move with the music rather than overpowering the music.

I love the album.

The lush sounds of Moroccan Spirit arouse imagination, taking the listener throughout Morocco with The Brave during the five years the artist traveled while recording the esential rhythms of different cultures. The resulting ethnical tapestry woven with electronic music is a wonderful background for reading, talking or just entertaining. Although very smooth, it does not take you to a contemplative level as the name suggests, but it is very relaxing and inspiring, even sensual.

Moroccan Spirit is one of those albums I keep putting in the cd player, as it's a wonderful compilation of styles that you will never get bored or irritated with. I use it in my belly dance classes for slower movement and veil work, but the Midunya track is great for learning afro-shimmies as well. The recording quality is very good as well. This cd is appealing to anyone who likes World Music, as well as children; everyone really.