Customer Reviews

Saracen (Dig)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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This album is sure to bring accolades to Jef Stott, who wrote every song, and to his record label, Six Degrees. It is one amazing, inviting ride... One can almost feel the desert wind on one's face. Nothing sedate about the music here - - it is all pulsating, thrilling, whirling, daring you to join in the Great Dance.

My very favorite is a new version of the song he's brought us before, the title track, Saracen (Eye of Horus vocal mix), five+ minutes of sheer, exquisite inspiration. And, how about "Overland", that quiet beginning that senses an approaching storm, then midway through, that galloping ride on a (camel?) through the midnight darkness. What story accompanies each song? Each of the ten songs has great depth and dimension, with the exception of the song "Medina Stepper", quite a bit stretched-too-tight and harsh, in my humble opinion. The rest are triumphant. There is a finely honed mixture of percussion and instruments, from the Oud, Saz, Cumbus, Yali Tambur,Santoor Bendir - -and many more - - sometimes gently spilling over with empathic soul, other times just bursting with vibrant, magnificent passion. Many songs are instrumentals, the guest vocalists (MC Rai, Hooman Fazly and Reda Darwish) are pure heaven, and all are richly mixed with multiple layers of luscious, breathtaking sound.

Enjoyed this album. If you don't mind a slow song, right after a very upbeat song (which I don't mind)it's great to listen to and a couple of songs would be very easy to dance to.

Sender sent a personal note and added a bit of her native language...just a really cool thing to do. Product was in superb shape, though I must admit, I need to listen a few more times...to get used to it.

I would never have discovered Jef Stott had it not been for Amazon's SixDegrees Sampler. It has certainly opened up mind mind to music I might otherwise have not discovered. Thank you Amazon and SixDegrees.

If you are open to new non-mainstrean, creative, excellent music then get the sampler and this album. The Sampler is FREE so you only have to invest a little time.

Saracen is unlike any album I have ever heard. I call it a masterwork because it took tremendous talent and imagination to construct these songs.

For more details regarding the album check 'Invitation to a ...'s review. It is a good review however I do not agree with their thoughts on 'Medina Stepper'. I think it is excellent with a more uptempo pace that connected with me.