Customer Reviews

Nine Heavens (Dig)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Niyaz album, I am thrilled to report that I am in no way disappointed. "Nine Heavens" is not merely a repeat of Niyaz's debut album, however. Instead, the music has gotten richer, more complex and velvety, with less emphasis on pulsing electronic trance rhythms. Worry not, however, it's still gonna move you...perhaps in a slightly more fluid expression. Despite the novelty of having two discs representing both the "electronic" and acoustic versions for 8 of the 9 songs, the music itself only differs slightly between them, and this is in no way a detriment. The differences are more subtle and nuanced, each thoroughly enjoyable in its own right. I can already imagine that I'll be listening to the slightly quieter acoustic version in the morning, and choosing the electronic version for evening.

For those fans of Azam Ali and/or Vas, you may recognize more of a similarity in the texture of this music than perhaps the first Niyaz album, with a return to more instrumental emphasis.

If you like Niyaz first album, Nine Heavens will not disappoint. As one other reviewer mentioned, there isn't as strong emphasis on electronic sound like in the song "The Hunt" but this is not to say someone who likes electronic music will be disappointed. Niyaz blends traditional and modern sounds, I'm always looking for bands that fuse different elements of world music together and Niyaz does it in perfect harmony, not to mention Azam Ali's voice is amazing. very few bands can accomplish this.

If you never heard of Niyaz and are looking for not just world music, but something different, Nine Heavens will not disappoint. The addition of the acoustic version is like having a completely different CD, not to mention, they could have waited six months before releasing the acoustic version.

The only negative thing I have to say is that the album is so good, it left me wanting more and I wish it was twice as long!

I have been eagerly awaiting this album release as well. I suppose like many people I visit music sites listening to samples of peoples work from all over the world. Amazon, ITunes and many others have been wonderful for this type of thing. Several years ago I ran across Sunyata and have been following Azam Ali's musical career as well as her single releases Portals of Grace and the more recent Elysium for the Brave. What always strikes me in all of my musical wanderings is absolutely beautiful beautiful voices. I personally rank Azam's voice with that of Loreena McKennitt The Book of Secrets or Enya Watermark. The combination of Azam's voice and Niyaz's wonderful instrumentation has such a fresh and unduplicated feel that I find myself forever listening to her many albums over and over again.

Niyaz I loved the track configuration and sound of both the acoustic and electronic versions.

For you die hards its "Iman" :) (just wanted to be the first to post that)

Azam, Fresh and beautiful as always! keep up the wonderful work!

Born in Tehran, Iran, Azam Ali grew up in India and as a teenager moved to USA with her mother in 1979. Her music career that began there now spans more than a decade and remarkably already includes four solo albums and six collaborative ones. These include four with multi-instrumentalist Greg Ellis in a duet called Vas and now two in a Los Angeles-based trio called Niyaz where she is joined by Loga Ramin Torkian, master of many traditional instruments from Europe, Turkey and his native Iran, and Grammy-winning producer/re-mixer Carmen Rizzo. Azam both sings and plays a santour or hammered dulcimer, and not surprisingly her music has been compared with that of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry's Dead Can Dance - a fair comparison in terms of ethereality although her Vas recordings are not as punchy, more like later Loreena McKennitt but less florid. For Niyaz think Natacha Atlas plus Dead Can Dance and you are in the right ball park.

Nine Heavens is a double-CD with both electric and acoustic versions of nine deft, stylish arrangements of traditional folk songs as well as Medieval Farsi, Urdu and Sufi poetry from Persia, Turkey and India. Not that I found the listening experience between one CD and the other a whole lot different - it's all good, with very high production values all the way. It's a nice idea though to give the listener the choice between traditional and modern arrangements.

Where the music of Vas was interesting enough, the results here are far more exciting. Azam has clearly developed musically in leaps and bounds, and her rich sensuous voice is just right for this complex cross-cultural blend with its agreeable balance between old and new. This is highly penetrating stuff, ancient mystical music with an ultra-modern beat and deep ambient grooves that are musically and spiritually rich and engaging. Azam's depth of expressive feeling, the technical mastery of the various traditional instruments or electronica and the imaginative arrangements result in a series of haunting, exhilarating soundscapes.

A must for anyone interested in Eastern-styled cross-over.

With this new band "Niyaz," Aza Ali has become a more progressive rock style singer, and thus less hauntingly spiritual and sound-oriented. Although I still long for her earlier style from her days on Vas, chiefly her breakthrough performances in the Sunyata album, this 2 CD-set is certainly worth the money. Heck, anything with Azam Ali's incredible vocals is money. I will continue buying whatever album, and in whose ever band, in which Azam sings. This album is good, very good.

Thank you NIYAZ for this haunting and beautiful CD. If you've never listened to anything but Western style music then challenge yourself and buy this CD. You will be rewarded by entering into a world of mystic poetry from Turkey and Iran that's accompanied by a blend of traditional instruments and artfully applied electronics (Synths and tastefully applied digital reverb on the vocals). The percussion (darbuka and other instruments)exhibition on this CD is quite masterful. Azam Ali has a fluid and ethereal sound voice that has to be heard to be appreciated.
I highly recommend this work of art.

Bruce Allen

Niyaz's sophomore follow-up to their self-titled debut is an ambitious two CD set,"Nine Heavens." They make an otherworldly blend of Persian, Indian, Turkish, and New Age music. There are sacred songs in Urdu and Farsi. It's at once incredibly spiritual and sensual. Like Sinead O'Connor's "Theology",the first CD is electric while the second is acoustic.

"Nine Heavens" opens with the rhythmic "Beni Beni." There is the bittersweet "Feraghi-Song of Exile",and the sensual "Ishq-Love and the Veil." "Hejran" is a meditative instrumental. "Sadrang" has an Indian flavor. "Iman" is a lullaby dedicated to Azam Ali&Loga Ramin Torkian's son who bears that name,and was born recently. "Iman" is about the divine nature of motherhood.

The acoustic sessions opens with a more meditative version of "Beni Beni",and quieter versions of "Love and the Veil" and "Song of Exile." It's a chance to hear Niyaz stripped down to its basic elements.

"Nine Heavens" is celestial music. Be transported!

Niyaz is an unusual group that blends traditional and modern world music with spell-binding vocals by Azam Ali, the multi-instrumental talents of Loga Ramin Torkian, and two-time Grammy Award nominee producer and remixer Carmen Rizzo. In "Nine Heavens", this trio of international talent superbly features Persian and Urdu mystical poems written by some of the most noted of the Sufi poets, as well as two original interpretations of traditional folk songs from Khorrassan, Iran, and a memorable folk song from Maras, Turkey. A multi-cultural masterpiece, "Nine Heavens" is flawless in execution and production, making it an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library CD music collections and a 'must' for the growing legion of Niyaz fans both here and abroad.

I came across their name by happy accident. I viewed some of their music on Youtube and decided to get their latest release. I sat and listened to both cds. I was unhappy that it seemed over so soon. I say ditto to all 14 previous reviews. Niyaz, you have a new fan.

This is some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear. You will need more than thirty-second samples to appreciate the true beauty of Azam Ali's voice. Her music (at least to my ears) has improved greatly since her early days with Vas (see, for example, "Feast of Silence"). The fist disc of this set contains lightly remixed versions of the songs, while the second disc is acoustic and sounds more like traditional Persian music. See also this group's first release, "Niyaz."

If you prefer remixes, two releases on Six Degrees by Azam Ali are worth hearing, but are available only as downloads. They are remixes of music from "Elysium for the Brave": "Elysium Remixes, EPs 1 & 2.