Alif Love Supreme (Turkey): Omar Faruk Tekbilek: Amazon.ca: Music

1. Dulger

2. Gardener

3. Laundry Girl

4. Dark Eyes

5. Shinanay

6. Don't Cry My Love

7. Alif

8. Dadash

9. Take a Flight

10. Ya Bouy

11. Lachin

12. Forbidden Love

Product Description

From Amazon.com

Music has been called the international language, and for good reason. Even when disparate genres or styles seem to have no relation, we can still make connections between them. On Alif: Love Supreme, multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek, producer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Shehan, and an international cast of musicians--including a Spanish guitarist and singers from Persia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Israel--present traditional and contemporary renditions of songs from the Mediterranean. Whether they are performing a medley of Sufi songs from Turkey, a love song from Azerbaijan, or a modern version of a popular Israeli song, the compositions' cross-cultural roots are apparent. Much of this music covers familiar ground, but there are some intriguing tracks. The chosen selections on Alif are ultimately a mixed bag, but at least this collective is striving to create its own universal language. --Bryan Reesman

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

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3 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The album for the perplexed, Oct 24 2003

By	"passcoop" (Ft Lauderdale, FL USA) - See all my reviews

You have been curios about Middle Eastern music. You thought you may like it. If only you could get an album that will lead you gently into the genre. This album is it. Perfection in every track. Begin with track 4; "Dark Eyes" and you'll be hooked on OFT forever! An unbelievable artistic accomplishment!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Middle Eastern Music Without Borders, Jun 2 2003

By	Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Turkish master Omar Faruk Tekbilek (with Steve Shahen and a host of talented musicians from Iran, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Spain and Turkey) really goes beyond limitations here, creating some of the most beautiful, ephemeral music I have ever heard. Despite the obvious Turkish influences, this music incorporates a wide range of styles from across the Middle East; Anatolian folk, Rromani (Gypsy), Greek, Bulgarian, Sufi, Egyptian, Azeri and classical influences can all be felt here, amongst others. Spanish guitar mixes with the Turkish ney. Its so amazing. This really is pan-Middle Eastern music, worthy of the name "Alif". It represents the whole of Middle/Near Eastern culture. Mere words alone cannot describe the beauty and elegence of this music. From the very beginning, "Dulger" calls to mind images from the heyday of the Ottoman Empire, and you will be moved by songs like "Laundry Girl" and "Dark Eyes". "Alif", the title track, is absolutely haunting, and "Dadash" is simply filled with splendor and wonder. And from there it goes to the lively and exotic "Ya Bouy". If you appreciate Middle Eastern or Mediterranean music, then there isn't a single song on this CD that will disappoint you. A note on the songs, by the way, is that they come from various sources. "Dulger" and "Alif" were originally Sufi devotional pieces, "Take a Flight" and "Forbidden Love" are contemporary arrangements in traditional styles, "Ya Bouy" was composed by the legendary Farid al-Atrache, "Don't Cry My Love" and "Lachin" are both based off folk songs, and "Dadash" is a medley of Anatolian styles. The sheer scope and range of these pieces, and the fact that they mix and match elements of different cultures and styles, means that it will likely appeal to any fan of Middle Eastern music. Even those who have never listened to Turkish classical music or any other music from that region will likely find this to be a wonderful buy. I strongly recommend this CD.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully sensual and dreamy...., Jan 14 2003

By A Customer

I am not familiar with Tekbilek's earlier work (but soon hope to be), however I can say with certainty that this is one of the best albums I have bought in a long time. It's incredibly sensual and highly emotional-- really touching. A must for fans of Arabic/World music.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden Love
I seem to have the knack of buying CDs where I simply love 1 track (& play it to death) whilst giving the rest a lukewarm reception. Read more

Published on Nov 17 2002 by SERENE

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous and Tasteful Fusion of Styles
Tekbelek performed here in Boulder. I had not heard his work and was immediately taken by it. I lived in Istanbul for a year in the late 60's and developed a lifelong taste for... Read more

Published on Jul 7 2002 by Diane M. Rabson

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich, hypnotic, amazing
I picked this album up in Spain, not knowing a lot about Tekbilek's work. The music was drifting out of the storefront of a tea store in Granada, and it stopped me and my friends... Read more

Published on Mar 6 2002

2.0 out of 5 stars Faruk goes WAY off track
Some of Faruk's earlier CDs (from the "Mystical Garden" period) are among my absolute favorites, both for listening and for dancing. Read more

Published on Mar 4 2002 by P. Lozar