Yol Bolsin

Amazon.com
Yol Bolsin is an intriguing new export traveling west on Asia's Silk Road. The debut of 25-year-old Uzbeki singer and doutar player Sevara Nazarkhan, the album combines the rich musical tradition of her Central Asian country and fuses it with the modern sounds of noted French-Algerian producer Hector Zazou. Like much of the best stuff to come out on Real World, the combination here is timely and timeless, with Zazou's modern sounds simply providing a tasteful backing to the plucked, lutelike lines of Nazarkhan and fellow doutar player Toir Kuziyev. A pop star in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, Nazarkhan has a soaring, conservatory-trained voice that conveys myriad emotions with range and an intonation enriched with deft shading. It's a voice that puts her in a league with such modern global pop divas as Natacha Atlas, Gigi, and Sheila Chandra. Particularly strong are the hauntingly ambient "Galdir," the undulating "Moghulchai Navo," and the surprisingly funky title track. --Tad Hendrickson

Yol Bolsin,Sevara Nazarkhan,Real World,Central Asia,Int'l & World Music,Pop,Uzbekistan,World Beat,World Music

Average customer rating: Hi Sevara! What a voice! This album blew me away--I play it all the time. A Voice Like Silk ...Sublime Music mixed review

Yol Bolsin Sevara Nazarkhan Manufacturer: Real World ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Salt Rain The Best Of Yulduz Usmanova Love Trap Gifted: Women of the World The Selection Album ASIN: B00007JV9T Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

1. Yor-Yor
2. Soqinomai Bayot
3. Adolat Tanovari
4. El Nozanin
5. Yol Bolsin
6. Galdir
7. Moghulchai Navo
8. Gazli
9. Orik Gullaganda
10. Yallajonim
11. Alla

Amazon.com

Yol Bolsin is an intriguing new export traveling west on Asia's Silk Road. The debut of 25-year-old Uzbeki singer and doutar player Sevara Nazarkhan, the album combines the rich musical tradition of her Central Asian country and fuses it with the modern sounds of noted French-Algerian producer Hector Zazou. Like much of the best stuff to come out on Real World, the combination here is timely and timeless, with Zazou's modern sounds simply providing a tasteful backing to the plucked, lutelike lines of Nazarkhan and fellow doutar player Toir Kuziyev. A pop star in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, Nazarkhan has a soaring, conservatory-trained voice that conveys myriad emotions with range and an intonation enriched with deft shading. It's a voice that puts her in a league with such modern global pop divas as Natacha Atlas, Gigi, and Sheila Chandra. Particularly strong are the hauntingly ambient "Galdir," the undulating "Moghulchai Navo," and the surprisingly funky title track. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

Hi Sevara!.......2006-11-10

I'm biased becasue my wife grew-up with the artist, Sevara Nasakhan, but the album is truely lovely, and reminds me of great days in Tashkent. Highly recommended. And Sevara; we met Neguma in a bazaar the other week, and Tanya says give her a call when you can. As for me, I love this album, thanks. - Andrei

What a voice!.......2004-11-10

In retrospect, it was quite funny when I first saw Sevara perform at a concert - at some point my hair was literally standing on end in disbelief at what she is able to do with her voice. I don't speak Uzbek and can't tell what any of her songs are about, but the joy, longing and passion expressed in her singing will get to you as well, for sure. Her voice is unbelievably versatile and beautiful. I had never in my life even imagined someone sing like a Ney flute before - until she did!
Perhaps the album would have benefitted from a bit more live experience spent playing these songs - I found Sevara live charismatic and her music fabulous, whereas the studio album in comparison seems not quite as outgoing and engaging. However, it's still a great album and I recommend it highly to anyone interested in world music. If you can - go see her live.

This album blew me away--I play it all the time........2004-09-24

Can you mix synthesizer, electronic sampling, electric guitars and the sounds of--get ready for this, Uzbekistan? If you are Sevara Nazarkhan, you sure can. This is a beautiful album of hypnotic songs, recorded in exotic Tashkent and (not so exotic) Paris on the doutar (played by Sevara) and backup mixed with electronic instrumentation. Sevara's sweet, soothing voice threads through each song and is entirely engaging. This is a fresh, fine sound, relaxed and laid-back, ultra-modern and ancient all mixed together with exquisite taste.

Yol Bolsin ("Where are You Going?") is the title cut and comes in the middle of the album. It's an ancient song from the time of the Silk Road caravans. It's one of the best on the CD, but each song here moves seamlessly to the next--nothing jarring. Soqinomai Bayot, the second piece, starts out sounding like the opening bars of Satie's "Gymnopedie #3." It's one of my favorites and a bit reminiscent of Japanese songs. Just makes you want to hear more.

This is an exciting album. So will YOU like it as much as I do? If you like Japanese Anime Techno-pop, Indian-Pop, or World music, I'd be willing to bet you will love "Yol Bolsin." The pace of the songs make this a possibility for yoga practice (sedate and steady, with tabla-like drums in the background.) Write me and tell me if you like this cd--because I think it's one of the best World music albums to come along in quite a while. This is a keeper. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A Voice Like Silk ...Sublime Music.......2004-02-29

The voice is regal and elegant ... accompanied on a 15th C. Central Asian lute ... the combination is sublime. At times, Sevara's voice sounds romantic, other times it is subdued and reverent. She creates a meditative atmosphere. She sounds as if she were entering a deep and quiet place within herself -- connecting to some long lost part of an ancient world where her spirit roams freely and so does ours when listening ...

The music has transcendental and mystical qualites similar to Turkish Sufi music. It contains rhythms and melodies ... makams that allow for improvisation that comes in waves and cycles... the accompanying music produces a gentle undulation that is soothing and relaxing. Translations of portions of the lyrics in the liner notes confirm the connection to nature, the human spirit, the earth, as well as romantic inclinations toward a lover, future husband and the indescribable love of a mother for her baby in a lullaby... The beauty of everyday existence and simple things are celebrated. For example, one song is titled, "When Apricot Blossoms", another one, "Song of the Bride" and yet another, "Beautiful".

Anyone who loves traditional world music with ancient roots and wishes to delve into a lesser known culture, Uzbekhistan in Central Asia, would find this CD a delightful path to explore. Anyone fascinated by improvisational music from Persia, China, the Middle East, or Turkey would enjoy the rhythmic ambience on this CD very pleasant and enjoyable to hear. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

mixed review.......2004-01-22

i recently bought this album after reading a review of it in a magazine...it seemed really cool, and although i wasn't a big fan of the real world label, i had peter gabriel's soundtrack to "the last temptation of christ" and thought it was pretty cool.

Anyway, Sevara definitely has a good voice, and the album is well put together, mixing the traditional with the new, and can surely sell well to the 28-45 year old crowd who drive audis and hang out in single-letter-titled-bars. Personally, I found Hector Zazou's production to be uninnovative and many times ruining an otherwise well constructed song. Highlights are the atrocious funk-wah guitar in track 5...ouch.

I would have enjoyed a somewhat more traditional sounding album, or an all out experimental/electronic take on this awesome vocalist. Maybe for the next album, Peter Gabriel can hire Nobukazu Takemura or the likes and redeem the abominable production of this one.

Rock Music:

1. 3 [Import]
2. African Fantasy
3. Almost Paradise
4. American Us
5. Anamorphosee [Import]
6. And She Closed Her Eyes [Import]
7. Axe Bahia 2005 [Import]
8. Azucar
9. Best Of
10. Best of Fiji

Rock Music

rock music

Recommended Music:

Sky High [CD-single] [Import]

Arias & Duets

Animal Tails

Honeysuckle Rose [Soundtrack]

Baadasssss! [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]

Algeria: Rai [Import]

BBC Sessions [Import]

Atomic/Atomix: The Very Best of Blondie [Import]

25 Favorite Italian Love Songs

Bass Duos From the French Rococo

Angermeans

100% Nostalgie v.2

A-Town Hard Heads

Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuez/Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre

The Essential Herbie Hancock