World's Songs

Niyaz - Nine Heavens

2010-04-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

About the Artist

By any measure, Niyaz has come very far, very fast. The trio's 2005 debut featured a convincing blend of Sufi mysticism and trance electronica, and quickly established them as a standout ensemble in a very crowded world music field. A worldwide tour followed. Now, Niyaz returns with Nine Heavens, which doesn't just cross cultural and stylistic boundaries, but the centuries as well. Drawing on medieval Persian poetry and 300-year old Persian folk songs, Niyaz has created a 21st century global trance tradition.
This may seem like a tall order for a band that's barely three years old - until you realize who these musicians are. Vocalist Azam Ali co-founded the best-selling world music duo Vas in 1996; her unmistakable voice has graced numerous recordings and major film scores. Loga Ramin Torkian is a multi-instrumentalist whose group Axiom of Choice brought the ancient sounds of Persian classical music to Western listeners in the 1990s. And producer Carmen Rizzo, a multiple Grammy nominee, has worked with Coldplay, Seal, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and many others. Small wonder then that the trio hit the ground running with its self-titled debut. Now, with Nine Heavens, Niyaz breaks new ground in a two-disc format: the first is an adventurous, spiritual exploration of the ties that bind Persian, Indian, Turkish, and Western dance music. The second disc showcases 8 out of the 9 songs in a purely acoustic setting.
Nine Heavens begins with the irresistible "Beni Beni," which marries an 18th century Turkish Sufi poem to a traditional Turkish folk song and some beautifully integrated electronics and programming. "It's a modern kind of Sufi music," Azam explains. "Both Loga and I are influenced by Turkish music, and there are many connections between Turkey and Iran." The steady, trance rhythms support layers of Turkish and Persian lutes, all topped by a new instrument known as the kamman, a larger, lower-pitched version of the traditional Persian fiddle.
Niyaz draws even more connections between Iran and India. The word niyaz means "yearning" in both Farsi, the language of Iran, and Urdu, a major language of northern India and Pakistan. Over the centuries, the cultures of Persia and India have shared not only words, but musical and spiritual traditions - and people. Azam Ali is one of them, born in Iran and raised in India; and two of the songs on Nine Heavens are by Amir Khosrau Dehlavi, a 13th-century Persian mystic and poet who was also raised in India. (The album title comes from his "Song of Nine Heavens.") Amir Khosrau founded the style of Sufi music known as Qawwali, made famous in the recent past by the great Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and some claim he invented the Indian tabla drums as well. But his poems, including "Molk-e-Divan" and "Sadrang," are in the great tradition of Persian mystics like Rumi. "'Molk-e-Divan' was the first song we wrote for the new album," Azam says. "Loga and I found the poem and wrote the music together; he did the main melody and I did the vocal line." Then, the whole thing was shipped off for Carmen to work his magic, which in this case consists of some highly processed drum programming and a rich tapestry of Near Eastern lutes and electronics.
Both Amir Khosrau texts can be read either as love poetry or as devotional songs to God. Of course, an English-speaking audience may be more likely to respond to the songs' earthy, throbbing rhythms. That's fine with Niyaz; Azam Ali points out that the sacred nature of the texts makes them a surprisingly good fit for Western dance music. "The common thread is putting yourself in a higher state. Even with club music, I think that's what people go to it for. The only problem was that it was void of "soul," the spirit of acoustic trance music. We always felt there was a way to bring the two together that blurs the line between the acoustic and the electronic." A good example is the song "Tamana," an 18th century Urdu poem that unfolds over a slow opening - much like the slow alap section of a raga performance. The electronic drones give way to the silvery tone of the Turkish cumbus, a type of lute, and as with a raga performance, the energy builds with the addition of percussion - in this case, both tabla and programmed beats. "We've been working so long now that this sort of fusion happens on a more intuitive level," Loga adds. "The steady rhythm of the tabla blends naturally with the dance grooves - it just makes sense."
So what about that "unplugged" disc? "It wasn't intentional," Azam recalls. "As it was coming together, we felt we had a real gem with the acoustic sessions. After we finished mixing both versions, we realized it would be a shame not to let people hear them." The result is a rare opportunity to get inside the music, as the acoustic versions reflect the songwriting talents and mystical leanings that Azam and Loga bring; then the "final" versions showcase the organic way Carmen's electronics fit both the rhythms and the mood of these deeply-rooted works.
Other highlights of Nine Heavens include "Iman," a lullaby written by Loga and Azam for their infant son. Essentially a musical prayer, it offers a pause in the album's rush of rhythmic excitement. And "Feraghi - Song of Exile" is close to the hearts of the two Persian émigrés, now living in California. At a time when most Americans have a distorted view of Iran and Iranian culture, Niyaz have been doing workshops to raise awareness of the contributions of Iranians in the US and of Persian culture in general. "Our Iranian identity is important," Loga says. "On the first Niyaz album, we were just trying to find our place here. Now, with this second record, the Persian elements are used with more confidence." For example, "Feraghi" uses a Persian 5-beat rhythm, which most Americans would find difficult to dance to -- but the blend of traditional and programmed beats is so persuasive that many would try.
Dance or trance - the music that Niyaz makes on Nine Heavens can serve either purpose. "The function of music in society has changed," Loga points out. "It's very different from one or two decades ago; people now listen on iPods, or in their cars; music is not their primary focus. There's not as much sitting and listening to music. So the goal is for the music to stand on its own in different contexts."

Product Description

"Nine Heavens" features nine intricately carved original arrangements and compositions of traditional folk songs and mystical Sufi poems from Iran, the Indian sub-continent and Turkey. With a strong emphasis on composition, Niyaz centers on the deep interconnectedness between the music of Iran, India and Turkey, and delves further into the traditional melodies of these regions with outstanding performances by its core members as well as guest musicians of the highest caliber from these three traditions.

Nine Heavens has been released as a double disc set. One cd embodies the original concept of the band which is to bridge the gap between the traditional and modern by creating a finely-tuned balance of acoustic and electronic music.

The second will be a solely acoustic version of the album, which will feature a more organic approach with a stronger emphasis on traditional acoustic instrumentation with added percussion. (By Amazon)

CD 1
1. Beni Beni
2. Tamana
3. Feraghi - Song of Exile
4. Ishq - Love and the Veil
5. Allah Mazare
6. Iman
7. Molk-E-Divan
8. Hejran
9. Sadrang

CD 2
1. Allah Mazare (Acoustic)
2. Beni Beni (Acoustic)
3. Sadrang (Acoustic)
4. Tamana (Acoustic)
5. Feraghi - Song of Exile (Acoustic)
6. Hejran (Acoustic)
7. Ishq - Love and the Veil (Acoustic)
8. Molk-E-Divan (Acoustic)

http://rapidshare.com/files/374750226/Niyaz_-_Nine_Heavens__2008_.rar (No pass)

Natacha Atlas - Ayeshteni

2010-04-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

After a hectic 1999, which saw Natacha Atlas win the Best Female award at France's equivalent of the BRITs, sell 100,000 albums and have a big hit with the single Mon Amie La Rose in France, not to mention her appearance alongside Jean-Michel Jarre in front of the pyramids at Giza, the belly dancing Belgian-Egyptian singer went to Cairo to strengthen her roots with her ancestors' homeland.

The result of her time there in 2000 is Ayeshteni, an eclectic album featuring a cover of Jacques Brel's Ne Me Quitte Pas and a devastating take on Screamin' Jay Hawkins's I Put A Spell On You, plus a remix of her own track Manbai by Nitin Sawhney. Name dropping doesn't get much better.

Ayeshteni is much more than name dropping, however, as anyone who knows either her solo work or any of the recordings she made as a member of Transglobal Underground, who produce much of this album, will expect. Veering from predominantly Arabic vocals, there are also French and English vocalisations, all carried off with a digital production which borders on dub, yet adds to the rich Arabic melodies and oud arpeggios.

Just about every track has the listener seductively dancing around the room, checking only when interrupted by amused flatmates - and if you've seen her live, you will know your belly dancing has a lot to live up to.

Expect to hear more of her music in middle eastern restaurants soon; expect her also to go from strength to strength. Her solid vocal base is only emphasised by fusing modern recording techniques with traditional instrumentation, while her backing band offer fine support, especially with regard to rhythm.

An uproarious medley of middle eastern exoticism combined with unexpected delights in the form of French and English covers, Ayeshteni is a rather fine album.
- Michael Hubbard (http://www.musicomh.com/albums/natacha-atlas.htm)

1. Shubra
2. I Put a Spell On You
3. Ashwa
4. Ayeshteni
5. Soleil D'Egypte
6. Ne Me Quitte Pas
7. Mish Fadilak
8. Rah
9. Lelsama
10. Fakrenha
11. Manbai

http://rapidshare.com/files/369800745/Ayeshteni.rar

No pass!

Natacha Atlas - Halim

2010-04-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

1. Marifnaash
2. Moustahil
3. Amulet
4. Leyli
5. Kidda
6. Sweeter Than Any Sweets
7. Ya Weledi
8. Enogoom Wil Amar
9. Andeel
10. Gafsa <= Wonderful song!
11. Ya Albi Ehda
12. Agib

http://rapidshare.com/files/369831055/Halim.rar

No pass!

Natacha Atlas - Diaspora

2010-04-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

North African and Arabian music is given a modern, dance-inspiring twist by Brussels-born and Washington, D.C.-based vocalist Natacha Atlas. A former singer for techno-pop band Transglobal Underground, and an occasional collaborator of Jah Wobble, Atlas has continued to explore the fusion of her musical roots with Western electronic dance music. While Option magazine explained, "[Atlas] has a beautiful voice, which sounds curiously like a blend between traditional Middle Eastern singers and Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins," The Wire wrote, "buoyed by her devotional calling and the chatter of programmed beats, she swoops, glides and goes reaching for the heavens in a way that needs no translation". CMJ New Music praised her for having "explored the far reaches of the ethnotechno spectrum."

The daughter of an English mother and a Sephardic Jew father, Atlas grew up in a Moroccan suburb of Brussels and was heavily influenced by the Arabic culture. In addition to learning to speak French, Spanish, and Arabic, Atlas was trained in the traditional techniques of raq sharki (belly dancing). Moving to England as a teen, Atlas quickly attracted attention as the first Arabic rock singer in Northampton.

Dividing her time between England and Brussels, Atlas sang in Arabic and Turkish clubs and appeared briefly with a Belgian salsa band, Mandanga. In the early 1990s, Atlas became involved with England's alternative rock scene, appearing on ¡Loca!'s single "Timbal," Apache Indian's single "Arranged Marriage," and Jah Wobble's album Rising Above Bedlam, which included five songs she had co-written. Accepting an invitation to join Transglobal Underground as lead singer and belly dancer, Atlas was featured on the band's albums Dream of 100 Nations and International Times. Atlas continued to work with Wobble, as well, co-writing and singing on three tunes from his album Take Me to God in 1994. Atlas' debut solo album, Diaspora, released in 1995, featured accompaniment by Tunisian singer/songwriter Walid Rouissi and Egyptian composer and oud player Essam Rashad. Halim followed in 1997 and Gedida in 1999. Atlas worked with soundtrack composer David Arnold on the score of the Kurt Russell film Stargate. In 2000 she released a collection of remixes of her life's work thus far. Ayeshteni appeared the following spring. Something Dangerous appeared in 2003 with a slicker and more pop-oriented sound. The career-spanning Best of Natacha Atlas was released in 2005 and a year later the sentimental Mish Maoul appeared as an homage to the music she heard while being raised in Morocco. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide

1. Iskanderia
2. Leysh Nat'arak
3. Diaspora
4. Yalla Chant
5. Alhambra, Pt. 1
6. Duden
7. Feres
8. Fun Does Not Exist
9. Dub Yalil
10. Iskanderia [Atlas Zamalek]
11. Diaspora [Ballon Theatre Mix]
12. Fun Does Not Exist [Dolmus Mix]

http://rapidshare.com/files/369813313/Diaspora.rar

No Pass!

Yello - Touch

2010-03-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

Verifiquem a música "You Better Hide"! Uma das melhores do CD!

Track Listing

1. The Expert
2. You Better Hide
3. Out Of Dawn
4. Bostich (Reflected)
5. Till Tomorrow
6. Tangier Blue
7. Part Love
8. Friday Smile
9. Kiss In Blue
10. Vertical Vision
11. Trackless Deep
12. Stay
13. Electric Frame
14. Takla Makan

http://rapidshare.com/files/369779892/Yello_-_Touch.rar

No pass!

Twilight Saga Original Soundtrack Alternative

2009-12-18T17:41:00.000-08:00

Twilight Saga Original Soundtrack Alternative

For Twilighters and everyone loves somebody...

01 - Death Cab for Cutie - Meet Me On The Equinox
02 - Radiohead - 15 Step
03 - Joseph Arthur - Can't Exist
04 - Imogen Heap - Closing In
05 - Thunderclap - Eskimo Joe
06 - Imogen Heap - Glittering Clouds
07 - Alkaline Trio - Over And Out (Renholder Remix)
08 - Linkin_Park - Shadow Of The Day (Album Version)
09 - Paramore - Decode
10 - Imogen Heap - Have You Got It In You
11 - Justin Guarini - I Cant Live
12 - Red - Already Over
13 - Tokio Hotel - Don't Jump
14 - Hinder - better than me
15 - Barlow Girls - Never Alone
16 - Paramore - We Are Broken
17 - Linking Park - Leave Out All The Rest
18 - Rebecca St. James - Lion
19 - Within Temptation - All I Need
20 - The Killers – A White Demon Love Song
21 - Annie Lennox - Love Song For A Vampire
22 - Twilight Soundtrack - Blue Foundation - Eyes On Fire
23 - The cure (ft. maynard, james keenan, puscifer and milla) - Underneath the stars (renholder remix)
24 - Grizzly Bear – Slow Life
25 - Bon Iver & St. Vincent – Roslyn
26 - Rob Pattinson - Never Think
27 - Lykke Li – Possibility
28 - Anya Marina - Satellite Heart
29 - Werewolf
30 - Milla Jovovich - Rocket Collecting
31 - Ximena Sariñana - Frente Al Mar
32 - Twilight Soundtrack Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth

Part.1

Part.2

No pass!

1982 - Chico Buarque em espanhol

2009-01-01T11:04:00.000-08:00

Chico Buarque en español

01. Que Será (O Que Será à Flor da Terra)
02. Mar y Luna (Mar e Lua)
03. Geni y el Zepelin (Geni e o Zepelim)
04. Apesar de Usted (Apesar de Você)
05. Querido Amigo (Meu Caro Amigo)
06. Construcción (Construção)
07. Te Amo (Eu Te Amo)
08. Cotidiano (Cotidiano)
09. Acalanto (Acalanto Para Helena)
10. Mambembe (Mambembe)

http://rapidshare.com/files/178683272/Chico_Buarque_-_1982_-_b__En_Espanhol.rar

2009-01-01T10:56:00.000-08:00

1. Human Beings
2. State Of Grace
3. Latest Craze
4. Just Like You Said
5. Princess
6. Lost My Faith
7. Excerpt From
8. When a Man Is Wrong
9. Colour
10. Still Love Remains
11. No Easy Way
12. Human Beings Reprise

http://rapidshare.com/files/178656503/Seal_-_Human_being.rar

(No pass)

Deep Mood Blues

2008-06-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Depois de algum tempo sem movimentação, volto pra divulgar mais uma seleção de músicas. Essa voltada para o público que curte um bom Blues. Contém clássicos eternos do gênero e ótimas revelações atuais, como Amy Winehouse e Joss Stone. Divirtam-se!

01 - Massive Attack - Live With Me
02 - Nina Simone I Shall Be Released
03 - Lighthouse Family - Ain't No Sunshine
04 - Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
05 - Alicia Keys - If I Aint Got You
06 - Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now
07 - Joe Cocker - When a Man Loves a Woman (live)
08 - Lenny Kravitz - Confused
09 - Eric Clapton - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
10 - Paolo Nutini - Rewind
11 - Aretha Franklin - Natural Woman
12 - Christina Aguilera & Alicia Keys - Impossible
13 - Nina Simone - Feeling Good
14 - Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
15 - Joss Stone - Right To Be Wrong
16 - Alicia Keys - Fallin'
17 - Norah Jones - Turn Me On
18 - Ray Charles & Diana Krall - You Don't Know Me
19 - Diana Krall - Cry Me a River
20 - Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game
21 - Dianna Krall - Why Should I Care
22 - Nina Simone - I Put a Spell on You
23 - Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
24 - Sade - Please Send Me Someone To love
25 - Diana Krall - Dream A Little Dream Of Me
26 - Madonna - Sooner or Later

http://rapidshare.com/files/178667149/Deep_Mood_Blues.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/178657572/Deep_Mood_Blues.part2.rar
(No pass)

Strange Flesh

2008-06-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Excelente compilação de Tribal Fusion, uma variação sonora fabulosa para BellyDance.

A faixa 2, é uma verdadeira viagem.

1. Love Is All We Have Blind Divine - Blind Divine
2. Khundas - Shiva in Exile
3. Sins of Salome - Angels of Venice
4. Black - The Shroud
5. Prana - Karma Sutra
6. Cold Room - Knossos
7. Cask of Alban - Tim Rayborn
8. Karakass - Maduro
9. Pandora's Box (Opened Remix) - Collide
10. Honeysuckle Vines - Blind Divine
11. Bon-syo - Ruben van Rompacy
12. Blood Oil Gold - Solace

http://rapidshare.com/files/127692445/Strange_Flesh.rar

(No pass)

Camarilla - For the insiders only

2008-06-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

Inauguro o Blog publicando uma lista produzida para os amantes de um bom dark and gothic rock....

Espero que curtam.

Camarilla - For the insiders only

01 - Deftones - Change
02 - Stabbing Westward - What do I have to do?
03 - Stabbing Westward - So Far Away
04 - Papa Roach - Forever
05 - Evanescence - Haunted
06 - Marilyn Mason - Sweet Dreams
07 - Jay Gordon of Orgy - Slept So Long
08 - Linkin Park - - System
09 - KoRn and Disturbed - Forsaken
10 - Puscifer - The Undertaker (Renholder Mix)
11 - Kidney Thieves - Before I'm Dead
12 - Lacuna Coil - Our Truth
13 - Stabbing Westward - Haunting Me
14 - Creed - What If
15 - 12 Stones - My Life
16 - Creed - Signs
17 - System Of A Down - Aerials
18 - Flaw - Only The Strong Survive
19 - Meat Beat Manifesto - Suicide
20 - The Retrosic - The Storm
21 - System of a Down - Mind
22 - Evanescence - Cloud Nine
23 - Papa Roach - Getting Away With Murder
24 - Evanescence - Sweet Sacrifice

http://rapidshare.com/files/117178769/Camarilla_-_For_the_insiders_only.part1.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/117179930/Camarilla_-_For_the_insiders_only.part2.rar

No pass