Youssef, Dhafer: Sounds Of Mirrors

Dhafer Youssef is a Tunisian musician specializing in the oud. While in Vienna Youssef discovered Indian music at an early age and from what I have read has not looked back since. He has released quite a few albums, the exact number I am not sure, culminating with his latest titled Sounds Of Mirrors.

This music is certainly off the beaten track and is both hypnotic and mesmerizing and there is a very relaxing quality to Sounds Of Mirrors. The beginning piece “Human Kind� starts with an ethereal drone upon which Youssef’s oud weaves its magic. The sound and production is crystal clean and is overall very exotic. Youssef also sings in an Indian style, quite dramatic at times. The clarinet is used as well, producing some other-worldly sounds adding more layers of enchantment. Picked oud and tabla begin “Dance Layan Dance� another highly textural track, especially due to some unearthly clarinet work. The soundscape is fairly sparse, each instrument can be heard clearly and succinctly. With “Al Wadood� the mood is somber at the start before the oud picks up the pace. Percussion and tabla are also well represented. The rest of tunes sound just as exotic, sticking to the same basic formula. The ethereal nature of this music cannot be understated.

Sounds Of Mirrors is extremely well done Indian music although I will need to spend some more time with it to hear all the subtle nuance. Click on the link below and check it out for yourself.

Track Listing:
1. Human Kind
2. Dance Layan Dance
3. Al Wadood
4. Ruby Like Wine
5. Journey In Bergama
6. Like Dust I May Rise
7. Nasikabhushani
8. Shaanti “Atithi Devo Bhava� Suite
9. Chakkaradaar “Atithi Devo Bhava� Suite
10. Satya “Satyagraha� Suite
11. Satyagraha “Satyagraha� Suite
12. Good Morning Mumbai

Added: January 15th 2019
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1178
Language: english

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