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Rating:
THE REVIEW
I am fully aware that my credibility as a de-reviewer is akin to that of an ice cube placed atop a scorching desert dune, but, just this once, forget about my usual nonsense, abandon all hesitation, pretend you didn't read it on this abominable page-breaker, but do yourself a favor, grant your swollen and often unjustly mistreated ears (think about how many musical-fooleries you've forced them to endure..) the luxury of an album worthy of being listened to, lived, bitten, breathed, danced, skin-transpired... in short look for it in any way the 'paradisiacal' work published at the turn of last year by these three eminent gentlemen: You will thank yourself.
"World Music for the 21st Century"
Fantastic!
There are no more appropriate terms to describe the captivating, spectacular, engaging, riveting, enchanting paradises of musical-spatial-geographical-temporal profusions and emanations in the second work of the phenomenal Iranian trio Niyaz.
Truly, rarely has there been an opportunity to perceive such a balanced, convincing, and natural union between Tradition and Contemporaneity: the fundamental structural and vocal framework harkens back to Sufi mysticism and its enveloping musical structures; the sublime vocal flights performed by the perfect chanteuse Azam Ali, are infused with refined yet deep, intense electronic textures that do not scratch or weigh down the melange but rather exponentially, almost embarrassingly, strengthen the overall intensity and global involvement rate; it's truly improbable not to be swept away by the visceral opening: the spectacle called "Beni Beni" or not to be petrified in astonishment at the trance-tribalisms contained in "Molk-E-Divan".
A reckless and ungracious comparison to what these artists materialize might be made with what was once advocated by the early Transglobal Underground: let it be clear, the comparison results in a horribly deficient view of the former group of the still talented Natacha Atlas: here we truly find ourselves on another planet in terms of quality.
The work is overall structured around seventeen fragments, the last eight of which (or the second CD if you prefer) are nothing but performances/readings defined in "Acoustic" fashion (performed solely with the aid of traditional instruments, setting aside the modern technological arsenal) of the tracks present in the first part of the work: such is the quality of the execution of both sections that it is a considerable (very pleasant and rewarding) challenge to favor one dimension over the other.
I won't bore you any further.
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Summary by Bot
Niyaz's Nine Heavens is celebrated as a remarkable album harmonizing Sufi mysticism with contemporary electronic elements. The vocals of Azam Ali shine distinctly against intricate electronic and traditional instrumentation. The album features two sections: an electronic-infused first half and an acoustic interpretation of the same tracks. This work offers a rewarding and immersive listening experience that appeals to world music lovers seeking innovative blends of past and present.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
01 Beni Beni (04:31)
bab-ı ihsanından mürüvvet eyle mürüvvet eyle
karıştırma her bir eşyaya beni
bakma isyanıma dost dost merhamet eyle
ulaştır menzili a'laya beni beni dost beni beni
beni beni beni beni sultanım beni beni
ulaştır menzili a'laya beni beni dost beni beni
kün buyurdun her eşyayı yetirdin yali yetirdin
mevcudatı kemaline getirdin
yaptın arş'ı kürş'ü çıktın oturtun
düşürdün dünyayı dost dost
kavgaya beni beni dost beni beni
beni beni beni beni sultanım beni beni
düşürdün kavgaya beni beni dost beni beni
dertli'ye tükenmez nice dert verdin ala dert verdin
ne çekmeğe sabır sabır ne gayret verdin
ne saltanat verdin ne devlet verdin verdin
ya niçin getirdin dost dost
dünyaya beni beni dost beni beni
beni beni beni beni sevdiğim beni beni
çok şükür bir dara dost dost yitirdin beni beni
aşık dertli
Niyaz
Niyaz is an Iranian music group that blends Sufi poetry and traditional Middle Eastern music with contemporary electronic production; vocalist Azam Ali is a prominent member.01 Reviews
