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Jilala: Sufi Trance Music From Morocco
Jilala
Jilala: Sufi Trance Music From Morocco
Genres: Dance & Electronic, International Music, Pop
 
A good portion of the musical power derived from sacred music, be it gospel or Gregorian chant, comes not just from the composition or its aesthetic, but from the belief in the divine presence each genre strives to evoke. ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Jilala
Title: Jilala: Sufi Trance Music From Morocco
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Baraka Foundation
Original Release Date: 6/16/1998
Re-Release Date: 6/23/1998
Genres: Dance & Electronic, International Music, Pop
Styles: Africa, Dance Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 644993000922

Synopsis

Amazon.com
A good portion of the musical power derived from sacred music, be it gospel or Gregorian chant, comes not just from the composition or its aesthetic, but from the belief in the divine presence each genre strives to evoke. If you're standing on the other side of the faith, you might not be able to hear much of it. This alone may mar the still-potent spirit of Jil Jilala, a collection of early Sufi trance-music recordings undertaken by Swiss painter Brion Gysin and writer Paul Bowles during their celebrated expatriate stay in Morocco. The music is rhythmic and stark--a few drums, three flutes, a pair of castanets, and the voices of the followers are all you'll hear on these titleless tracks--and the sound quality renders an experience imperfectly dimmed by the years. Yet this vivid sonic portrait of the Sufi mystical sect of Jilala captures the musical essence of a culture jubilantly seizing the soul of their worship. As both a historical document and glimpse into the unknown, Jilala radiates with an undeniable enlightenment. --Justin Hampton

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CD Reviews

Excellent example of the real thing
08/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The quality may not be superb, according to new age listening standards that require their sufism all scrubbed up and ready for easy listening digestion, but this is a fine recording of a real intoxicated sama. Real sama is rarely recorded and available by CD. Most of what is available are performances. Close your eyes and listen, you'll know what steps you need to take next."
Authentic Sufi Music from Tangier
Zekeriyah | Chicago, IL | 06/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded by Paul Bowles in the '60s, this music provides a unique experience - an authentic Sufi healing ceremony. Yes, it is old and the quality might not be the best. But overlook that. The cultural value of this recording is immense. Perhaps you are familiar with the works of, say, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and other qawwali singers? Well this is yet another branch of Islam's mystical heritage, recorded in the raw. All the same passion and intensity, but without the clever studio gimmicks. It is real devotion, real passion, real healing. And it shows. Compared to most studio releases, this is much more sparse, relying on chanted vocals and simple North African instruments. But this only adds to the mystique of this CD. Slowly, each track builds in tempo and intensity, until it almost vibrates with raw faith and emotion! It is a beautiful thing to experience, and I strongly advise anyone with an interest in Sufism to purchase this CD for themselves. The only disappointment is that more ethnographic information about the Jilala Brotherhood and their practices wasn't included, but c'est la vie I suppose. This is still the next best thing to actually being in Morocco itself."