Lily of the Nile

Amazon.com
The meeting of oud master Hamza El Din and the adventurous audiophile label Waterlily Acoustics was something that simply had to happen. El Din's music, so thoughtful and often lulling, is tailor-made for the sonic sharpness that is the label's trademark. And the result doesn't disappoint. This might not be the classic that Escalay (The Water Wheel) or A Wish are, but it's still a gorgeous record, slow and meditative, with El Din's voice and oud washing over the listener like a large Nubian wave. Pieces like "Shortunga" are ideal for contemplation; the refreshing and far more upbeat "Hamayala" brings things up to speed for the finale. Lily of the Nile is a distinct change from El Din's previous disc, Muwashshah (which teamed him with some of his Japanese students), and a real return to his roots. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Bint Baladna
Annun Sira
Shortunga
Allah Hu Akbar
Hamayala

Amazon.com

The meeting of oud master Hamza El Din and the adventurous audiophile label Waterlily Acoustics was something that simply had to happen. El Din's music, so thoughtful and often lulling, is tailor-made for the sonic sharpness that is the label's trademark. And the result doesn't disappoint. This might not be the classic that Escalay (The Water Wheel) or A Wish are, but it's still a gorgeous record, slow and meditative, with El Din's voice and oud washing over the listener like a large Nubian wave. Pieces like "Shortunga" are ideal for contemplation; the refreshing and far more upbeat "Hamayala" brings things up to speed for the finale. Lily of the Nile is a distinct change from El Din's previous disc, Muwashshah (which teamed him with some of his Japanese students), and a real return to his roots. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

Another great by Hamza El Din.......2005-07-16

I love the simplicity of just the oud and the unique voice of Hamza El Din. I recommend all his albums for true natural esoteric which is simultaneously both primitive and elegant.

Beautiful, meditative music.......1998-06-20

Hamza el Din is from Nubia, where Africa and Egypt meet. He's probably the best living player of the oud, the Arabic instrument that was the ancestor of the European lute (that standby of Renaissance popular music). This album showcases his amazing artistry on the oud, as well as his meditative vocals, and it's wonderful music for a warm summer evening when I'm imagining I'm back in Aswan (sigh). But a friend who bought the album for belly dance practice was disappointed: the only track you can dance to is the final one, where el Din wakes you up again with a peppy drum and vocal number.

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