Label: Pathé Marconi EMI – 2C 066 – 95.158
Series: Arabesques – 2
Format: Vinyl, LP, Gatefold
Country: France
Released: 1974
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Seriously mesmerising display of traditional Lebanese classical music from master musician Muḥammad al-Sabsabi on the excellent 70s / 80s series Arabesques. Armed only with his ancient zither-like Qanun, Sabsabi gives the impression of a 10,000 fingered man as his digits dance across the strings with extreme dexterity, conjuring flurries of overtones and evocative, mysterious harmonies. I’ve really been hammering this stuff A LOT, once again looking for answers in the orient after those recent incredible Golha recordings of Persian pianist Morteza Mahjubi on Death Is Not The End put me in a tailspin. Not sure about you, but it’s the kinda thing I’m quite happy listening to ALL DAY. Lovely maroon gatefold sleeve too is worth a mention. Brilliant. (NM/NM)
Tracklist
A1 Kurdi 5:15
A2 Bayati 4:40
A3 Nahawand 5:35
B1 Saba 7:15
B2 Rast 8:10