Various – Music In The World Of Islam, 1: The Human Voice

Label: Tangent Records  – TGS 131

Series: Music In The World Of Islam – 1

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album

Country: UK

Released: 1976

Genre: Folk, World, & Country

Style: Field Recording, Folk

Hugely influential compilation from the popular 'Music In The World Of Islam' series with this one focusing on the power of the human voice throughout the Islamic world.  There's a real variety and geographical spread presented here, with pieces running from Algeria in the west to India in the east and as far south as Ethiopia, as well as individual folk pieces from the middle east (UAE, Iraq, Iran, etc) and more.  With the temptation of the west to lump much of the culture of Islamic world into one homogeneous block, it's really revealing (and also pretty daunting) trying to get to grips with this one due to the individual depth and complexities all these individual constituents add to this fascinating and ancient musical heritage.  Any fans of Byrne & Eno's EPIC cross-cultural hotchpotch  'My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts' (hopefully all of you!), will find original samples sourced from this LP!  (NM)

A1 Unknown Artist– Untitled (Recitation Of Verses Of The Qu'ran)

A2 Unknown Artist– Dhikr (Remembrance)

A3 Habibola Halika– Houri

A4 Unknown Artist– Untitled (Bedouin Wedding Songs)

A5 Jabr Bin Husein – Ghazal

A6 Amir Mohammed– Gurdum Gurdum

A7 Rashā'ida – Untitled

A8 Unknown Artist– Haddadi

B1 Wasimxzama Khan Naseri– Kavali

B2 Dunya Yunis– Abu Zeluf

B3 Gadabursi*– Untitled (Leader/Chorus Song)

B4 Mehein Fin Baqid & Dahai Fin Baqid / Hateim Atiya Khalil Sayed– Radha / Ga's

B5 Aqi Pishak– Untitled (Love Song)

B6 Unknown Artist– Tahlil