Shabda : शब्द

On …In Existence, Sawyer blends English and French lyrics, as well as the traditional chants of the Hopi Indians and fromEast African Swahili, underscoring these elements with melodic, meditative pop music. More an overall, multi-ethnic experience than an easily categorized adult contemporary release, it’s best experienced in its entirety, as a journey to some sort of spiritual center.

Immortal Egypt is a deeper exploration of the Egyptian dance/Western contemporary theme running through the albums ‘Pharaoh’ and ‘Eternal Egypt’ by Phil Thornton and on which Hossam has collaborated as a percussionist. During the recording of ‘Eternal Egypt’ Hossam was able to take samples of work in progress to Cairo and overdub ‘Kawala’ flute and quarter tone Accordion.

It is perfect background for relaxing with a novel by the great Egyptian author Naguib Mahfoux, especially the classy and attractive performance by the Takht Ensemble of Cairo. Stringed instrument lovers will particularly enjoy the astounding oud solo by Gomaa Muhammed Ali. The recording quality is fat, bringing out certain low tones in the oud and drum in a way that reaches right for the gut.

EMBALASASA interweaves many subjects dear to Samite—native African fables and their morals, musings on the journey of life, of the experience of grief, of childhood, and of nature. His virtuosic performances (vocals, kalimba and flute) imbue the album with heartfelt emotion that Billboard Magazine noted when it said that ‘Samite wraps his warm voice around melodies that seem to rise up off the Ugandan plateau, caressed by his kalimbas and other native instruments.’

Tarika’s 1997 album Son Egal was a further helping of the exuberant, infectious, buoyant music of Madagascar’s internationally popular roots music adventurers, brought to a new peak by sought-after producers Simon Emmerson (Baaba Maal/Afro Celt Sound System) and Martin Russell. But it also had powerful central themes about historic reconciliation and current political corruption.