Arabic traditional, Orientale

Sohuel Debes – Dance with Nariman
Arabic Orientale
Riq, doumbek, and keyboard only, but a full sound anyway,
appropriate for nightclubs.  However, stops and shifts are few and
far between.  Combine this with the constancy of the instrumentation, and the album blurs into
a marathon of rather boring songs, all played at about the same tempo with extremely similar
rhythms (almost all maqsums).  I don’t recommend the album except as a teaching tool: it’s
great to put on and have non-intrusive, utterly predictable music to teach repetitive sets of dance
moves.  Of course, you run the risk of convincing your students that dance music is boring…
Overall:  Mediocre
Danceability:  Moderate
Drum use:  Not significant

Sheak Shak Shok, Soheir Zaky                                        Egyptian Orientale
A classic album – very old school, cutesy, and with a high cheese factor.  Doumbek and riq constitute the percussion.  Nei
and qanun are present, but the melodies are dominated by keyboard and accordion.  The keyboard uses many wacky sound
effects.  A few tracks have vocals or drum set.  The compositions are excellent for dancing, but alas, the silly keyboard
effects spoil the album.  “Sheik Shak Sho”, the song itself, is a classic, though.
Overall:  Mediocre (would be great but for the effects)
Danceability:  Great (if you ignore the effects)
Drum use:  Moderate

Veiled Visions: Classic of Belly Dance, various                        Egyptian orientale
The sound is classic without being “old school”.  Doumbek, frame drum, sagat (finger cymbals), riq (loud position), violin,
qanun, accordion and nei play in masmoudi, maqsum, and malfuf.  The doumbek is a bit lost in the mix, but the riq and
frame drum are great and clearly they have an actual sagat player, who uses different positions for different tones.  There is a
good energy level and nice shifts but no displays of virtuousity.  The album is perfect for Egyptian and classic American
cabaret style Raks Sharki.
Overall:  Good
Danceability:  Excellent
Drum use:  Minimal (good sagat)

Best of Seedi Nights, Metkal Kenawi                        high octane Egyptian folkloric
Traditional Egyptian country music, heavy on the sai’idi and maqsum (with a brief zeffa and occasional “baladi” and malfuf).  
Rebab, nei, and accordion play, but male vocals (of the half singing, half shouting kind) provide the main melodic line.  The
drums – doumbek, frame drum, and sagat (zils) - are powerful, driving, and highly competent.  All provide fine examples of
excellent drumming, complementing the melodic line while adding precise riffs.  Of particular note is the sagat playing, if only
because good sagat playing is more difficult to come by.  For no evident reason, keyboard appears in a few tracks, but is
mercifully buried by the general raucousness.  Electric bass also briefly appears, much more tastefully.  Production quality is
a bit rough – of course! – but overall very good as these albums go.  This album is absolutely bursting with energy, showing
that truly authentic folkloric music can be exciting and compelling.  Highly recommended for folkloric dancers and anyone
interested in Egyptian folklore.
Overall: Excellent
Danceability: Folkloric only, but great
Drum use: Great (no solos)

Oriental Bellydance, Raks Al Mezmar, D.J. Recording                Arabic orientale
A peculiar mix of electronic and traditional instruments (by which I mean, peculiar even with respect to the other albums
reviewed here).   The overall sound manages to be electronic on account of the keyboard providing melodic and rhythmic
(canned drum set and zils) backing.  However, the lead instrument is a powerful mizmar, and the doumbek flies –
wonderfully skilled and adequately mixed.   Real violin and cello also provide melodic backing.  Shifts are competent;
rhythms include malfuf and a wide assortment of maqsums (“walking” maqsum for Ana Fi Entezarak).  Renditions of
classics, including Bahlm Beek, Samra Ya Samra, and Lesa Fakir, are unexciting.  I don’t really know whether to recommend
this album or not: it is what it is, and I’ve described it as precisely as possible.  Lesa Fakir is kind of relaxing and cool.
Overall:  Moderate
Danceability:  Moderate
Drum use:  Moderate (no solos)