Mostar Sevdah Reunion

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
During the Bosnian war, musicians in Mostar met by candlelight to quietly perform the bluesy Turkish-influenced café songs called sevdah. After the war, vocalist Illijaz Delic, accordionist Mustafa Santic, and other musicians recreated the spirit of the wartime concerts for Sevdah Reunion. The sevdah genre mines the deepest human emotions, holding nothing back in its examination of the terrible beauty of life. There is a mysterious intensity to almost every note, turning even a song about shoeing horses by moonlight ("Mujo Kuje Konje Mjescu") into an enigma of great emotional force. Pile-driver of a love song, "Dul Zulejha" (Zuleiha the Rose) swells with inexplicable urgency. Its lyrics about the morning wanderings of a country girl seem out of proportion to the militant tempo and almost unbearable tension of the thumping accordion, bass, and drum arrangement. The belly-dance rhythm of the faster songs lightens the mood with violin solos that suggest the fire of Balkan gypsy songs. On "Moj Dilbere," "queen of the gypsies" Esma Redzepova takes a whip-crack dance rhythm as her own, trading verses with Delic with passion and ribald underpinnings matched by braying reeds. The strictly local flavor can occasionally make Sevdah Reunion a little difficult to penetrate. But the lack of concessions to an international audience gives this superbly performed disc an undiluted power to enthrall. --Bob Tarte

Tracks:

Tell Me Why You Left Me
This Little Scented Flower
Verka's Done For
Dark-Skin Lass
It's A Hard Thing To Die
Andro Verka
Three Days Now I Have Been Weeping
Mustafa
Rupuni
Beneath The Palm Tree
Carnation Flower
Day Has Not Yet Dawned All Ruddy

Average customer rating:

The Tattooed Vegitarian
A true jewel in Bosnian folk music collection
Bittersweet memories of Mostar
Reminding me on nights when we sang songs like that
master-work

Mostar Sevdah Reunion
Mostar Sevdah Reunion
Manufacturer: Times Square Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Gypsy Legend
Gypsy King of Serbia
Krushevo
A Secret Gate
Queen of the Gypsies

ASIN: B00005CC4Y
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

Asik Osta Na Te Oci (I Fell In Love With Your Eyes)
Mujo Kuje Konje Po Mjesecu (Mujo Shoes The Horses In The Moonlight)
Mostarski Ducani (The Bazaars Of Mostar)
U Stambolu Na Bosforu (In Istanbul On The Bosphorous)
Dul Zulejha (Zuleiha The Rose)
Moj Dilbere (My Heartthrob)
Kradem Ti Se U Veceri (At Night I Steal Upon You)
U Lijepom Starom Gradu Visegradu (In Beautiful Old Town Visegrad)
Snijeg Pade Na Behar, Na Voce (Snow Is Falling On Blossoms And Fruit)
Psenicica Sitno Sjeme (Tiny Seed Of Wheat)
Daurko Mila (Sweet Giaur (Infidel) Girl)

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

During the Bosnian war, musicians in Mostar met by candlelight to quietly perform the bluesy Turkish-influenced café songs called sevdah. After the war, vocalist Illijaz Delic, accordionist Mustafa Santic, and other musicians recreated the spirit of the wartime concerts for Sevdah Reunion. The sevdah genre mines the deepest human emotions, holding nothing back in its examination of the terrible beauty of life. There is a mysterious intensity to almost every note, turning even a song about shoeing horses by moonlight ("Mujo Kuje Konje Mjescu") into an enigma of great emotional force. Pile-driver of a love song, "Dul Zulejha" (Zuleiha the Rose) swells with inexplicable urgency. Its lyrics about the morning wanderings of a country girl seem out of proportion to the militant tempo and almost unbearable tension of the thumping accordion, bass, and drum arrangement. The belly-dance rhythm of the faster songs lightens the mood with violin solos that suggest the fire of Balkan gypsy songs. On "Moj Dilbere," "queen of the gypsies" Esma Redzepova takes a whip-crack dance rhythm as her own, trading verses with Delic with passion and ribald underpinnings matched by braying reeds. The strictly local flavor can occasionally make Sevdah Reunion a little difficult to penetrate. But the lack of concessions to an international audience gives this superbly performed disc an undiluted power to enthrall. --Bob Tarte

Customer Reviews:

The Tattooed Vegitarian.......2004-06-11

Having been raised in the good ol' U.S.A. I can not be be a true expert in Balkan Music, but just read below. Yes, no one has given less than 5 stars and I do agree with all. What a wonderful C.D.! This has great accordion lines with guitar and vocals, but wait I do hear some clarinet too and also some violin in some parts. Kind of gypsy orientated with heart felt vocals.If you like the World Music scene or Yugoslavian music then I'm sure that you won't be dissappointed. A great C.D.!

A true jewel in Bosnian folk music collection.......2004-02-17

I grew up playing Bosnian music and I must say this CD does a fantastic job in representing folk music from Bosnia Herzegovina. The CD is a master piece, from song selection to CD cover which even includes lyrics translated into English. International music lovers will keep it right next to "Buena Vista Social Club" CD. Watch for other upcoming MOSTAR SEVDAH REUNION releases ("Secret Gate", etc.)
Enjoy it!!!

Bittersweet memories of Mostar.......2003-05-27

I agree with all other's comments here. Hearing "U Lijepom Starom Gradu Visegradu" on the Rough Guide cd of Balkan music was enough to convince me I have to have their cd as soon as possible! I love sevdalinka so much and this recording is very REAL and soulful. It reminds me visiting Mostar in 1989, with it's incredibly beautiful 16th c. bridge, stari most; a painful memory when you think of all that happened shortly after - nema stari most. Many lives and much irreplaceble beauty was destroyed but apparently some spirit survives!

Reminding me on nights when we sang songs like that.......2003-03-14

I was extremly pleased when I heard this CD. I'm sorry I was not present during this performance. It is simply wonderful.

master-work.......2001-12-11

The best CD of the year.Unexpectable ,great music with the fantastic singer and great band.Top of the World !!!

World 2002: 37 Artists from 24 Countries Around the World (2-CD Set)

Average customer rating:

world record
A good assortment
Bad choice
37 Artists, 24 countries, 2 great CDs of World Music

World 2002: 37 Artists from 24 Countries Around the World (2-CD Set)
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | International | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

World 2003
World 2004
BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music 2005
Sound of the World
World 2006

ASIN: B00006B1K4
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

Oica La O Senhor Vinho - Mariza
Pena - Mostar Sevdah Reunion
El Loco - Los De Abajo
Una Musica Brutal - Gotan Project
Isla Mujeres - Javier Ruibal
Tew Ante Sew - Gigi
Tennessee Hotel - Malian Musicians
Macary - Mamani Keita
Face A La Mer - Les Negresses Vertes
Pundela - Thierry Robin
Pepico's Tangos - Estrella Morente
Ala Akbar - Abya Yala
Qalantiqa - Rachid Taha
Xiquexique - Tom Ze
Solar East - Temple Of Sound
Moussolou - Salif Keita

Tracks:

Isimanga Salomhlaba (The Wonder Of This World) - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Hulum - Amal Murkus
Dance Of Eagle - Sainkho Namtchylak
Mi Bombon - Cabas
Liar - Chava Alberstein
Bladi - Souad Massi
Tounga - Issa Bagayogo
La Primavero - Manu Chao
Pondaurat - Bob Brozman
Sti Fotia (Into The Fire) - Kristi Stassinopoulau
Gnima Diala - Djelimady Tounkara
Gina - Kekele
Zazo Somondrara - D'Gary
Di Nagara Deunguen (In A Foreign Country) - Sabah Habas Mustapha & The Jugala All Stars
Malalako (Be My Baby) - Tarika
Mataraden Anexan - Tinariwen
Chedi Tei (7 Hills) - Yat Kha

Customer Reviews:

world record.......2003-06-15

These CD's (it's a set of 2) are THE best music I have EVER heard. The quality is top notch and the selections are amazing. I have it in my car and have not been able to change to any other CD's. I play it louder and louder and louder. I am not a fan of loud music but this music BEGS to be loud. The variety is amazing. Every song becomes my favorite until I hear the next cut. I believe this set captures the true sense of countries best musicians both vocal and instrumental. As each song progresses you actually get carried away with the rhythms.
The way the cuts are placed in the CD's flow and you're on your way into the world of worldly music. I cannot recommend it highly enough, it needs more than 5 stars! Not to be missed!

A good assortment.......2003-04-30

I really do like this CD sampler a lot. The music is a broad distribution of music from around the world exemplified by excellent musicianship.

I have discovered some new types of music that I now would like to explore further. My only complaint is that the music track selections do not always show the best offerings of a particular musician or group, even from a single album or year. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable album.

Bad choice.......2002-11-18

What a waste of time and money in my opinion! Do you really want to hear songs from Cuba, Spain, Italy, France , Mexico? Don't search anymore; Listen to "fuerza". Manu Chao, Carotone, Macaco and plenty more give an excellent introduction. Mixing reggae, ska, rock will satisfy everybody. Feel the "fuerza" Joanna!

37 Artists, 24 countries, 2 great CDs of World Music.......2002-10-17

I love these Narada sampler albums of New Age and World music because I discover so many new and interesting artists. "World 2002" a compilation of World music is no exception. I discovered several artists whose work I would have had trouble finding if these samplers didn't present them. This album goes all over the globe, every continent except Australia (which is too bad, as they have some great World artists.)

In particular, the first cut on CD #1 by Mariza is a fine introduction to Fado, the traditional singing of Portugal. This was my first exposure to Fado, and I will be back for more, probably from Mariza's "Fado em Mim" album, that's for sure.

I also really liked the cut "Hulum" by Amal Murkus, a Palestinian singer. Sainkho Namtchylak, from the Tuva in Central Asia sings alluringly, with examples of what sounds like overtone singing here and there in "Dance of the Eagles." It's mysterious and exotic, but entirely listenable. It's one of my favorites on the set.

One disappointment; I did not think the cut by the well-known Ladysmith Black Mambazo was particularly good. I like this group (made famous by Paul Simon on his "Graceland" album) but this cut did not do them justice. I found it somewhat flat and fragmented.