Charcoal Gypsies by Musicians of the Nile » Catalogue

Charcoal Gypsies

by Musicians of the Nile
Real World Region: Africa
Sep 1996

From the furthest reaches of Upper Egypt to new spaces and cultures, The Musicians of the Nile return with powerful songs deep in tradition and spontaneity.

Reviews

Live At The Queen Elizabeth Hall

Opening this year's South Bank Rhythm Sticks festival, they came on in robes and turbans to demonstrate that their traditional acoustic instruments could provide both exhilarating dance music and intriguing, hypnotic trance effects...

The effect was remarkable. The songs slowly built up and changed tempo, with a slinky rhythmic vocal line echoed back by other singers, and the audience joining in with furious hand-claps.

This was an intriguing band for musicologists, but also a great desert dance outfit.

Press review from: The Guardian (UK)

This is music of unashamed display, utter spontaneity and strong, earthy physicality which develops less subtly, but no less fascinatingly, at the twirl of a rabab, into dance, song and repartee.

Press review from: The Times (UK)

Powerful melismatic singing and instrumental virtuosity come alive in a reflection of a millenium-old culture...

June/July 1997

Press review from: Dirty Linen (USA)

The vocals soar over the intoxicating drones of the rababah and the sudden flourishes of percussion strive to break its deeply hypnotic spell.

September 1996

Press review from: Q Magazine (UK)

Show more reviews (3)» « Hide extra reviews

« Previous release