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Average: 4.5 (29 ratings)
- Date Released: May 20, 1997
- Genre: International
- Style: Pakistan
- Label: Shanachie Entertainment Corp. / The Orchard
Nusrat takes qawwali music to the skies
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We Say...
You don't get many Nusrat songs to the pound, and it's debatable whether the four here are really "greatest hits." But they do illustrate the sublime artistry of the Pakistani man who was one of the world's greatest singers — a huge talent (in several ways) who took Sufi devotional qawwali singing to a global level. The genius was in his improvisations, the way he would take a phrase and explore it, building on it until it exploded to the skies. The long cuts here — two weigh in at almost 25 minutes each — offer the chance for him to do just that. Backed by his "party" of harmonium, tabla and singers ("Mangte Haim Karam" expands the instruments), he uses the poetry as a launching pad, much as a jazz musician would use a theme. It's deeply spiritual, and to listen deeply to the way he inhabits and lifts a song can be a transcendent experience. Beautiful, often breathtaking, these are pieces that pierce to the core of music — and humanity.
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They Say...
The idea of a religious singer whose ecstasy-inducing opuses commonly run over 20 minutes having "greatest hits" borders on the hilarious. But when you consider the fanatical following the Pakistani qawwali star has gained around the world, the top-of-the-charts concept becomes less far-fetched. Upon hearing the great qawwal in person, Pakistanis in foreign cities were known to bang their heads against the stage until they bled. This set of four pieces was released in 1997, the year Nusrat died. By the time the world discovered Nusrat in the late '80s, he had produced literally hundreds of recordings, so whether you consider these archival selections "hits" or not, they are significant and worthwhile additions to his catalog. "Haq Ali Ali" is the only one of these to appear on any of Nusrat's nine Real World releases, but the short version on Devotional Songs is only a warm-up for this expansive, 25-minute rendition. Nusrat's sound remained fairly constant throughout his career. He changed his instrumental backing some before settling on harmonium as his backing instrument of choice, and his voice gathered some ragged edges in the '90s, but other than that, there was no overarching progression in his music, only side trips. None of those side trips are represented here (although 1990's Mustt Mustt really was a hit, electrifying Pakistani youth with its crossover sound). Still, there are some unusual sonic textures among the older tracks here. "Data Ke Ghulamon Ko" begins like a processional hymn, the harmonium hanging on long, organ-like chords. And "Mangte Hail Karim" uses the qanun (a hammer dulcimer) and a clarinet-like reed instrument to set up its 3/4 feel.
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You Say...
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| 01. |  |
Haq Ali Ali |
24:45 |  |
| 02. | |
Kamli Wala Mohammed |
12:39 | |
| 03. | |
Data Ke Ghulamon Ko |
12:00 | |
| 04. | |
Mangte Hain Karam |
24:57 | |
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Credits
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Vocals // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Vocals // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Vocals // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Vocals // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Vocals // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Main Performer // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Main Performer // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Main Performer // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Main Performer // Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Main Performer // Nick Perna - Design
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