Onethreeseven

Amazon.com
World dance albums are a dime a dozen these days, as studio nonmusicians cut and paste exotic sounds into hip, trendy, and generally vacuous international tapestries. The Middle East-influenced Zohar escape this morass of mediocrity via their organic blend of live and sampled sounds. Zohar's composers/performers are both synthesists and musicians. The jazzy Arabic trip-hop of "Midnight at the Bazaar" is indicative of the group's approach--blending mystical Middle Eastern sounds with modern technology and styles, all the while retaining a sense of spirituality. Zohar implement a wide range of instruments, including piano, trumpet, Chapman stick, bendir, and drums, and combine them with a varied group of male and female Arabic vocalists to create compositions rich with aural textures. Some of the dreamy trumpet playing even recalls Jon Hassell. There are several moments of repetition that could have been edited down, but the group generally succeeds in its quest to create modern "soul music." --Bryan Reesman

Onethreeseven,Zohar,Ark 21,Int'l & World Music,Jewish,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating:

Great Music, rare artistry!

OK w/ a Bullet

A wonderful, almost spiritual experience

Bless one

Wow

Onethreeseven
Zohar
Manufacturer: Ark 21
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Jewish & Yiddish Music | Folk | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005NWMZ
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Tracks:

Ehad
Onethreeseven
Midnight At The Bazaar
Byzantine
Elokainu
Angel
The Merciful One
Head And Bones
Harmony
Maroc
Salaam
Sketches Of Egypt

Amazon.com

World dance albums are a dime a dozen these days, as studio nonmusicians cut and paste exotic sounds into hip, trendy, and generally vacuous international tapestries. The Middle East-influenced Zohar escape this morass of mediocrity via their organic blend of live and sampled sounds. Zohar's composers/performers are both synthesists and musicians. The jazzy Arabic trip-hop of "Midnight at the Bazaar" is indicative of the group's approach--blending mystical Middle Eastern sounds with modern technology and styles, all the while retaining a sense of spirituality. Zohar implement a wide range of instruments, including piano, trumpet, Chapman stick, bendir, and drums, and combine them with a varied group of male and female Arabic vocalists to create compositions rich with aural textures. Some of the dreamy trumpet playing even recalls Jon Hassell. There are several moments of repetition that could have been edited down, but the group generally succeeds in its quest to create modern "soul music." --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

Great Music, rare artistry!.......2007-02-06

This CD is awesome! The techno Middle Eastern woven in with Chazzanut and Arabic singing gives this album flavor and sustance, I wish they had another album!

OK w/ a Bullet.......2005-08-25

It's growing on me.

At first, I was pretty skeptical. I usually don't care too much for dance/techno-trip/ambient club groove, and less for electronic fusions with Jewish music. But to be honest, this makes good background music, for hanging out, for cooking, for trips, even for meditation. I don't think the music itself is spiritual or meditative or in any way the usual brand of 'authentic' Jewish/Israeli music. But it's kind of nice, it's chill, you can move to it or stay still to it, it just seems to work.

If you're looking for the cream of Israeli music, this is not it. That would be a band called Bustan Abraham. But on the other hand, compared to most of the abysmal pop music that floods the Israeli market, this is quality stuff.

And the more I listen, the more it seems to grow on me. I don't know that I'll ever be crazy to run out and get the next Zohar CD, but at least I feel pretty justified in buying this one. And if nothing else, at least it's not Ehud Banai....

A wonderful, almost spiritual experience.......2004-12-26

I bought this cd on a whim after briefly listening to it at Borders and I was not disappointed. The music is not only beautiful but also has an almost spiritual quality to it. My favorite tracks are #5 and #7, although they are all good. Each song has intricate layers to it which makes the whole cd an amazing experience. I listened to the cd non-stop while I was on a trip in Africa and it seemed to fit the scenery and mood wonderfully. Each time I listen to the cd I feel as if I'm back there. Play this cd with candles lit or a time when you can really listen to it. I've played this cd for friends and they also agree that its wonderful. I hope there is more to come!

Bless one.......2004-07-07

I consider myself a world music efficianado, ZOHAR is a unique cd. The cd has a contrasting blend, of Jewish prayer (like in Ehad & Elokainu) to Arab cantoring. but it has a buetiful jazz blend mixed in with raw sounds. It's a good chillout cd.

Wow.......2002-12-15

I bought this album on a lark, just because it looked interesting, and I was NOT disappointed. The opening track, "ehad" is one of the most incredible songs I've ever heard. "midnight at the bazaar" is a great chill song. "elokainu" is one of those beautiful, haunting songs that gives you goosebumps. I love the whole album...it's simply intoxicating.

The music on this album isn't supposed to be middle eastern...it's dance/ambient/drum and bass with middle eastern influences. It's one of a kind. One of my best purchases ever.

Onethreeseven
Average customer rating:
Onethreeseven
Zohar
Manufacturer: Ark21
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005COZJ
Release Date: 2001-10-12