Yaadan Vichhre Sajan Dian Aiyan - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Traditional
Sanson Ki Mala Pey - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Traditional
Recorded in the wake of the late Khan's triumphant performance at the 1985 WOMAD festival, this 10-track collection features the lighter, folkier side of the Pakistani classical music singer's repertoire. Accompanied by hi... more »s nine-member "party" on acoustic guitar, mandolin, and a full complement of tabla and harmonium, Khan unleashes typically stunning vocal phrases marked by blinding speed, cutting tone, and unearthly ornamentation. The infectious "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka," with lyrics in praise of Muhammed, finds the qawwali singer at his most effervescent, while the ghazal (love song) "Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae" features an insistent hand-clapped rhythm and the full Party chorus singing together in unison. --James Rotondi« less
Recorded in the wake of the late Khan's triumphant performance at the 1985 WOMAD festival, this 10-track collection features the lighter, folkier side of the Pakistani classical music singer's repertoire. Accompanied by his nine-member "party" on acoustic guitar, mandolin, and a full complement of tabla and harmonium, Khan unleashes typically stunning vocal phrases marked by blinding speed, cutting tone, and unearthly ornamentation. The infectious "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka," with lyrics in praise of Muhammed, finds the qawwali singer at his most effervescent, while the ghazal (love song) "Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae" features an insistent hand-clapped rhythm and the full Party chorus singing together in unison. --James Rotondi
Karam Khan | Surrey, British Columbia (BC) Canada | 07/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nusrat Fateh Ali has a commanding voice and booming sonic presence. the Music of Qawalli is often an acquired listening experience. While i cannot speak for the listeners who listen to this musical form without knowing the linguistic intricacy and beauty mentioned in Qawalli verses, i can speak for the ones that do know the language its mostly sung in. Musically the soundscape is beautiful and full of range and pleasing to the ear, knowing the lyrics behind it however gives the listener a totally new , almost religious sense of experience to this music, which most people feel is a very trance like state often that Whirling dervishes go into.However anyone can truly enjoy the bliss featured within Qawalli rhythms and melodies which often seem natural, resonating with the listener's mindsets. The Japanese have claimed to have said that God resides in the vocal chords of Nusrat. The range expressed herein might bring that statement to elevation. It is not for everyone though. Qawalli music often takes patience to grow into a listening experienceOnce the rapture of the sounds have you, its hard to let go."
Amazing CD
vyas_shashin | United States | 05/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have no words to express my opinion about this CD. Even if i don't understand many of the Urdu words, i still enjoy listining it at night. One of my friends from Pakistan gave me the cd to listen and now i think i'll buy this CD very soon."
Outstanding introduction of western instruments into Qawali
none | right behind you | 10/03/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The quality of the recordings on this CD are awesome. Especially for fans of older classical qawali where the recordings don't compare to the dynamic acoustic ranges in live Qawali. The introduction of western string instruments blend nicely without being intrusive.The dynamic range of this recording only adds to the splendor of the melodious mix of the poetry with the music. This is especially true for fans who understand the words. The words coming through the vocals of Nusrat with the tabla and clapping rhythms pierce your emotions, uplifting and saddening, haunting and beautiful.This is CD is a MUST-HAVE for fans of Qawali. This recording is an intercourse of east and west in its classical form."
Embodiment of ecstasy
Madame Butterfly | Seattle, WA | 10/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One day while driving with some friends, one friend was surfing through the radio stations when I heard this most amazing voice. My heart leapt in my throat as I screamed at my friend who had moved on through the stations to go back, but it was too late. Who was this person??? I literally went crazy for days after trying to find out who this singer was. Finally, some music store clerk got who I was talking about and I bought the only CD available, Night Song. I listened to this CD every day and couldn't get enough. Every song on this CD had me.
To me, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan doesn't sing, he channels sound like a hollow bamboo in which that incredible music just flows through him from existence. Truly his voice is the voice of the divine. Sometimes it makes me cry as it touches something very deep in me.
While poets Jalaluddin Rumi and Kabir are the written voice of Sufism, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the song of it. I've been doing Sufi whirling on and off for years and find that the essence of Sufism is deeply represented in Nusrat's music. I had not known of Qawwali music before hearing Nusrat, but I am familiar with Kirtan, which is a bit similar, and which I really like. So, of course I would fall in love with Qawwali music as both are devotional and follow centuries of spiritually driven musical tradition.
While I really love Night Song, my most favorite of Nusrat's is Devotional and Love Songs. This is mainly because when I hear him sing, I get so high that I need to move my body and express my bliss through dance or whirling. I love this CD because it's a concentration of his more traditional frenzied, hypnotic chanting type of song as opposed to the more western sound infused hybrids Night Song and Mustt Mustt. I totally loose myself in Nusrat's voice and the music's rhythmic beat and sometimes I don't even know how long I've been dancing or whirling. Shahen- Shah is similar to this one as well, but this CD just kind of hits me in a different way. And I absolutely love Allah Hoo, which is on this CD.
Even if you are not spiritually inclined, this music is precious just for the respect and reverence to life and love it conveys, even if you don't understand the words."