Reviews (page 2 of 7)
This scratched my world music itch. Apparently I’d listened to a single track of his once before, a few years ago, but this was my first album, and it was a highly enjoyable one. His vocals, the harmonies & instrumentation, the song length, and the exposure to qawwali in general were all points winners.
Always a fan of world. Oddly, I feel weird knowing I'm sharing this music publicly, as if it would be better just me alone in my room. Makes no sense.
No baseline for this, but it was immersive and sounded like an ensemble at the top of its game.
I'm not entirely sure I heard this exact album. It was hard to find, but I found a YT playlist, so... hopefully? Whatever it was that I heard, I dug it. It's passionate and easygoing at the same time, which seems like a tough needle to thread. I certainly can't bring a critical ear to the proceedings, but I enjoyed it. I had heard this guy before, but this was my first time spending an album with him, and he was pleasant company.
I liked this but wasn't blown away. Sometimes the constant tabla makes me nervous so I had to settle myself down here and there.
An interesting listen. Hate that I have to go through YouTube. 3/5
A really interesting album. I liked the continuous rhythms and the guitars really surprised me, but the best part were the expressive and strong vocals-
I accidentally listened to the double album, but didn't mind honestly. This is the kind of thing I'm glad to have listened to, even if I probably will never come back to it
I was quite happy to have this on in the background, even though it's not entirely my jam But it was a type of music I'd never have thought to put on if I wasn't doing this list, so I'm happy
Joyous
(2/7) it's a pretty heavy dose of a style of music in which many of the tracks sound indistinguishable to my admittedly untrained ears
Some were bangers even if they weren’t meant to be.
Pretty good background music; I enjoyed hearing it while I worked.
Alors là. Belle découverte, c'est exactement la raison pour laquelle je suis sur ce site. C'est marrant de redécouvrir des classiques, de trouver un album niche d'un genre bien connu, mais découvrir un genre de musique c'est plus rare. Ici, le qawwali, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan est le maitre absolu de ce genre de musique de dévotion soufi. C'est superbe et très différent. Il a aussi beaucoup collaboré avec de grands artistes occidentaux et apparait dans pas mal de films
Clearly not a sound that resonates for me. Cool to listened to a better album that comes in this category of music. But the album does not stand out in comparison to his other works in his discography.
Yes, I like the sound!
9/10 Honestly, I was not expecting to enjoy this album - it's (quite literally) devotional songs in a language I don't know, from a culture I have little knowledge of, released several decades ago. But you know what? Every song is a bop. I hate to score a religious (any religious) album high, but this album deserves it...
I’ll give it to the editors I did not expect an album like this to be on here For the most part, really pleasant album actually. NFAK’s a great vocalist and I think there’s a solid amount of variety in here. Instrumentation’s always pretty cool in these; it’s something you’d never hear in a western song and I think it does a great job of kinda underlining the emotions even when you don’t speak the language I do think this album runs a little long and the longer track lengths don’t really work in its favor; I think this album could get away with making every song a verse shorter. There’s obviously going to be a language and religious barrier where I don’t understand the themes he’s conveying (which is okay of course), but the album won’t have its full impact Still though, very unique album for 1001 standards and I think it’s cool that they at least try to branch out and try new genres from other languages. I probably won’t listen to this one again, but it was a nice change of pace
This is the kind of music my dad would put on this ipod
World music might be the least represented genre on this list. And I’m not necessarily complaining about that. It’s not a genre I ever find myself putting on because it’s what I feel like listening to in the moment. I feel the same about traditional orchestral music. I’m never really in the mood to throw on some Ludwig van Beethoven. That doesn’t mean this album is terrible though. I try to be as open to hearing new things as possible. And even if I didn’t love this. I still found things to take out of it, and it still stands as a unique experience. But truthfully I am in no place to really critique this, considering how little knowledge I have of the genre or culture this is from. Nusrat delivers some powerful vocal performances, and I can appreciate the complexity of some of the instrumentals. I can best describe this as like a combination of Pakistani jazz and classical music. Unfortunately that’s kind of where my observations end. This music is hard for me to attach myself to, and really get into, because there just isn’t much. It quickly becomes background noise that I have a hard time focusing on. I can’t think of a situation where I would recommend this to someone that I know. But it exists for a reason, because at least one person likes it.
I can’t pretend to know enough to rate this, but I certainly found it hypnotic
What can I even say... Not for me
This is nice in a meditative way, which I assume is the intended effect. It’s almost hypnotic; you find yourself drawn into the rhythm and chanting, maybe starting to sway a bit, thoughts drift away…
(Light 7/10) Not gonna lie, this was actually fairly enjoyable. I want to guess the majority of the negative ratings come from people who arrived to this album via 1001 albums, and just were opposed to this type of music from the jump. The rhythms are hypnotic and infectious, Khan's vocals are eccentric but passionate and full of life. There is quite a bit of diversity as well in the musicianship. I wasn't expecting the acoustic and Spanish-flavored guitars towards the latter half of the record but it was quite neat! As a foreigner to this style and culture, I appreciated it for the unique vibes and the rather trance-like state it can put one in. I am curious to check out some of his more highly-rated albums from before this one, but for now I'm glad I heard it. It may not be for everyone, but that's okay.
Very listenable - couldn’t tell you one of the songs, but enjoyable and relaxing
Like many others I discovered Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when Peter Gabriel showcased him and his band at the WOMAD festival in 1985. I was not there, but I recall seeing some of the performance on MTV that year and in the ensuing years. I was fascinated by how his vocal prowess could convey emotion, even though I cannot understand any of the lyrics. I later became further enamored after hearing his excellent contributions to Peter Gabriel's 1989 album PASSION (the score to The Last Temptation of Christ film). His music surfaced again for me when Trent Reznor incorporated his music on the NATURAL BORN KILLERS soundtrack. The film was a disaster, but the soundtrack was fantastic piece of work that was both uncomfortable and revealing. I genuinely enjoyed listening to this album while sipping my coffee and watching the sunrise. I could use more amazing discoveries on this list like this instead of the overrepresentation of albums from artists like Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, Neil Young, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
If you are new to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Devotional Songs perhaps you are daunted by the 1 hour 30 mins of music the streaming links will deliver. One thing to know is that the 1001 book's focus is on Disc 2 as a single release — so start there. Fire up Allah Hoo Allah Hoo and listen to the end. It's these six songs ending with Ni Main Jogi De Naal that you're meant to experience first and foremost. This is the devotional music of the Sufis, it has a purpose and intent that you might not immediately grasp, and yet Nusrat's performance has a spiritual force that breaks the language barrier. If you're like me you might find yourself inclined to circle back to the Love songs of Disc 1.
2.5
I don't like it but the system and theory the music is made with is different than western music
This one's a grower, not a shower. It's qaww-ney and hypnotic. Devotional music at its core, and it wears that heart on its sleeve. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Yeh Jo Halka Saroor Hae - Biba Sada Dil Morr De - Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam - Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae
Overall: 3/10 The singing was nice, but I'm pretty anti-religious and these songs all sounded the same to me. Fav Song: couldn't even choose
Absolutely good music and a great voice, just not for me honestly
This is why I wanted to do this - I had never heard of this genre before, let alone the artist. I enjoyed this, almost hypnotic at times. Will definitely explore further
Wow ok…. Eventually got around to listening to this (via YouTube) and I thought it just got better and better as it went on. A lovely surprising 3 stars with Haq Ali Ali Haq being the initial standout for me.
Not really my thing but I can see that it's well put together.
Love Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and of those I’ve heard by him this is my favourite album - 4 brilliant stars ❤️❤️❤️❤️. Tom.
i really enjoyed the androgynous quality of his voice. i’m a fan of world music and instrumentation that i haven’t heard before so this was a treat, listened to it at work and made things feel a little more lively. i liked disc 1 better than disc 2, but i was still a fan of both.
To say this man was prolific is a bit of an understatement, a back catalogue with more tracks than the peak British Empire. In other news, Genghis Khan killed a few people and Harold Shipman failed to uphold the Hippocratic oath. There’s a pulsating energy to this short set of lengthy tracks. It ebbs and flows but the rhythm keeps you locked in, should you choose. Great drums, the singer is a force of nature, the back and forth style between main artist and backing works. I don’t really know what I’m listening to but found it a bit mesmerising.
I gave this a proper go, but I just couldn't connect with it. I appreciate that the repetition could in the end create a hypnotic, trance-like effect, which is clearly the pillar of this music and maybe that might work live or in the right setting. Listening to it at home (numerous times), that effect never arrived for me. Instead, the tracks just felt like a repetitive pattern that quickly became quite boring. Wanted a different result but could not absorb this in the way intended.
Really enjoyed the vibe of this. It's good to be served up a little window into an unfamiliar culture and just immerse yourself for forty minutes. He has a compelling tone and the drums are hypnotic. What I will say is that it seemed like the same few phrases repeated over and over, which I assume is a feature of this style. Secondly, although I enjoyed this as a bit of cultural exploration, I can't see myself listening again by choice. That said, in the right context this would be awesome.
If more devotional songs sounded like this, maybe I would be religious.
2/10 Escuche el primer disco nomas, aburridisimo. Siento que estoy en una excursión en África o en una novela turca, si lo sacas de ese contexto es malisimo
Interesting to listen to but not my speed.
Not for everyone but there is a certain charm and melodic structure which beckons one in. Without his voice it can grate though.
I couldn’t find the album proper in time so just 3 for now
Unfortunately not the sounds I am used to. I can understand why it's important as music
Interesting to listen to a different culture's music , but it's not something I would listen to again.
If it ain't on Apple Music, I take that as a sign I've dodged a bullet
*guy who's only ever watched the Darjeeling limited* Getting real Darjeeling limited vibes from this.
Enjoyed greatly. Caught myself praising Allah in the kitchen.
I was not very optimistic from just the description I read. I then clicked on the link and found it was a double album on Spotify, which had me even less excited. Then I saw that all those songs were 6+ mins each, I was like what I am even doing here. Butttt, it all turned out to be a nice surprise. What I found was music that helped me zone out on my work very easily. I had no idea what was going on with any of the songs, but when I tell you I felt locked in, it was no joke. The songs were intense and big which was more than I was anticipating. Its a classic case of don't judge a book by its cover.
There is no way I can objectively judge the quality of this album. However, we had a pre-planned Indian-style dinner and sitting around listening to this album eating and talking just felt incredibly right. His voice is strong and his range is absurdly good. It is impressive too that the music tends to move despite some songs being extremely long and meditative. Halka Halka Saroor I swore even picked up tempo. Allah Hoo was a huge shout to the India’s Muslim culture and Mugal history. I am going to read more up on this and come back. I could totally play this in class, too. This was a fun album.
Random thoughts: * Thank you 1001 for expanding my horizons and knowledge of the world. * I learned about qawwali and Sufism. * I don't know how to review this music as I really have no comparison. * Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan seems like he can get after it as I read he could sing for hours. And I ended up scrolling through his discography on Spotify. Whoa! It was overwhelming. * Anyway, I doubt I will pick this up again but I learned something new today not just about music but about cultures all the way on the other side of the world. Thank you!
Not my usual cup of tea, but I ended up enjoying it more than I expected. The instrumentation is strong and the vocals sit right on top with incredible presence and emotion. My complaint about the songs are how lengthy they feel. They last from six and a half minutes to eight minutes, which is not really that long, but the main problem is the over use of repetition that gets a bit tiring towards the end of each track. Overall, I thought it was a great an unique experience. This was certainly a type of sound I've never dedicated my time to before.
Different
Kinda cool but not something I'd usually listen to 3. 5
Maybe I’m just close minded but I have no interest in this album at all
Never listened to Muslim devotional music before. Positive experience overall, similar energy to like,,, listening to choir boys at a cathedral but much more danceable. I appreciate it as music but it is quite clearly religious in a way that means this isn't going on my current listening.
The unbelieveable Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - what a voice! The music is not my cup of tea, however...
Sittar screamo
How refreshing to not have an English/American for a change! I enjoyed this a lot, no idea what they're singing about but it's gentle and soothing
Just because it is different, and yes it is good
It may deserve a place somewhere, but not with me.
Some really lovely melodies - this was harder to find but came up in Apple Music under Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party.
A standout on this list of songs for its unique sound and purpose. This was my first exposure to Khan and first ever intentional listen to qawwali music, and I found it pretty captivating. It serves as good focus music while working but if you listen closely you’ll realize this dude was an incredible singer. What a powerful voice.
This one took some finding. Apple Music had plenty of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, but not this album. Spotify had hidden it as the second disc of _Love and Devotion_, with the final track unavailable. I eventually assembled the correct six tracks into a playlist, substituting the same performance of “Ni Main Jogi De Naal” under a slightly different title and with a hotter master. Nothing says spiritual enlightenment quite like catalogue administration. I had heard Nusrat before, back in the pre-streaming era, and “Allah Hoo Allah Hoo” was already lurking in my library. Even so, I began this listen conscious that I lacked fundamental access to the language, theology and conventions of qawwali. There is only so much attentive listening can compensate for when you cannot follow the poetry or recognise the associations carried by repeated names and phrases. What remained immediately available, however, was the music’s underlying method: repetition, call and response, and ecstatic build. “Allah Hoo Allah Hoo” initially feels slightly inaccessible and sacred. The rhythm is tightly locked and circular, while Nusrat stretches single syllables across long, winding runs and sends sudden cries above the communal chorus. Those cries are extraordinarily affecting: flashes of individual rapture breaking through collective discipline. The repetition does not feel static. Each return carries greater urgency until the track creates something close to a trance state. “Yaad-e-Nabi Gulshan Mehka” is more obviously melodic. It turns on a chord sequence that could sit quite comfortably inside a Western pop song, while the guitars bring light and air to the arrangement. Before learning what the title meant, I described the track as pastoral and said it had the freshness of a garden. It turns out the title itself evokes a fragrant garden, which was one of those startling moments when musical atmosphere seems to cross a linguistic barrier intact. There are moments when Nusrat seems to vanish into a mass of syllables, as though ordinary speech can no longer bear the intensity being placed upon it. The effect recalls glossolalia and other forms of ecstatic utterance, not because the traditions are interchangeable, but because language appears to give way under emotional pressure. Beckett achieved something related in _Not I_, driving language so hard and fast that meaning begins to spill beyond orderly speech. Nusrat’s singing is highly controlled musical virtuosity, but both evoke language reaching the edge of its usefulness. The ending of “Yaad-e-Nabi Gulshan Mehka” is lovely. The tempo slackens and the ensemble comes down in a slightly ramshackle coda, as though everyone has returned to the room relieved to find themselves emotionally intact. I could imagine laughter after the tape stopped. “Haq Ali Ali Haq” begins with Nusrat alone and seems unable to settle on a tempo. Gradually the pulse reveals itself and the performance begins to accelerate, almost imperceptibly at first. By the end, the intensity has become quite extraordinary. The track turns into a joyous circle of voices, claps and rhythm, and the fade catches it still spinning rather than bringing it to a conclusion. That circularity is central to the album. It develops vertically rather than narratively. The music does not necessarily travel through a succession of contrasting sections. Instead, it keeps returning to the same phrase and finding greater emotional weight inside it. “Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam” begins with a descending figure that briefly sounds almost Harrison-like, settles into a firm beat, flashes past something almost flamenco-like, changes tempo again and returns to call and response. The communal chorus is so direct and memorable that I found myself singing along almost immediately. The mechanism reminded me of Buddhist chanting and of a dervish performance I once witnessed. The theology is different in each case, but the bodily process has similarities: repeated phrase, regulated breathing, communal voice, narrowing attention and the point at which the performance begins to carry the participant. “Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye” shifts the emotional temperature. It is minor-key but jaunty, with nimble harmonium playing and bright guitar and mandolin. It feels less sacred, more upfront and more entertaining. I felt less as though I were being carried into ecstasy and more as though I were simply having a marvellous time. It would be tremendous music for drinks and nibbles, which is not a conclusion I expected to reach about a devotional album. The closing “Ni Main Jogi De Naal” is impossibly catchy. Its modal melody and quick strummed instruments brush against Greek and Celtic folk music in the ear. These traditions are not governed by identical rules, but they share ways of organising melody around tonal centres, ornament and repeated figures rather than constant harmonic progression. The loose handclaps against the nearly machine-like rhythm are especially joyous. They roughen the edges of the pulse and keep the precision human. The strummed instruments coalesce around the rhythm beautifully, while Nusrat launches into astounding ascending figures in which the melody climbs and the lyrics dissolve into spills of syllables. By this point I was lying with my eyes closed and smiling. The Generator’s current average of 2.59 is startlingly low, although aggregate scores combine attentive listening with bafflement, genre prejudice, drive-by ratings and assorted internet oddities. The subreddit itself often seems considerably more open-minded than the wider voting pool. This is precisely the sort of album for which facile listening fails. Repetition is not evidence that nothing is happening. It is the mechanism by which everything happens: the communal refrain tightens, the pulse accelerates, the voice grows freer, and recurrence becomes transformation. I still do not understand qawwali from inside its language or faith, but I discovered that I can be carried by it. More importantly, I now have an album I genuinely want to hear again, and a reason to go further into Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s work.
some hidden bangers in there
At the WOMAD Festival in 1985, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his ensemble, Party, gave one of their finest performances outside Pakistan. It marked the beginning of one of the most remarkable international careers not only in world music, but in the world of music as a whole. Qawwali is the devotional music of the Sufis, the mystical tradition within Islam. Its purpose is to elevate the spirit by bringing both performers and listeners closer to God. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the undisputed master of this art form and, in my opinion, possessed one of the three greatest male voices I have ever heard (the other two being Tim Buckley and Demetrio Stratos). "Devotional Songs" was one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's earliest releases on Peter Gabriel's Realworld label. Originally issued alongside "Love Songs", the two albums neatly separate the central themes of Sufism: faith and love. Both are approached through ecstasy, and this music is genuinely ecstatic. It needs no translation to convey its profound spirituality, but also its joy of life, of music, and of love. It speaks a universal language. Almost thirty years after Khan's death, this music has lost none of its beauty or its power to captivate.
Overall Rating - 3.25/5 (6.50/10). This is the best part of the 1001 Album Challenge. Listening to something that is so far out of my comfort zone that it expands my musical horizons. I had never heard of Qawwali before, and it's really interesting. High quality musicianship, and a very interesting musical structure.
I've never really been into Qawwali despite occasionally hearing them growing up. I can't deny that NFAK has a one of a kind voice, and I love the drumming, but this will never be my favourite style of music. If this album was your first experience of it and you liked it though, I'd recommend going to an event where you can hear some live - the people who are into it get really, really into it, and the drums sound incredible when you're in the room with them and the vibrations are filling the space
Pretty good.
Trancey drones, shifting rhythms, powerful vocals - meditative and relaxing, but comes to a intense high often enough to keep it interesting.
Insert "The More You Know" gif here... I really enjoyed that introduction to this style. Thank you list gods.
Alright. Dude has an amazing voice, and musically everything works, but 90 minutes of what is essentially souped up call and response, in a language I have no understanding of, and no connection to, is asking a lot. I don't have anything bad to say about this, but it's simply not for me.
2.5 - Meh
A welcome change compared to the rest of the albums
Is it my fault that every song is the same flavour of bad?
Talented musician
I appreciate the artistry but don't love it
As devotional songs these go hard
wtf
Couldn't do it, just couldn't do it today
Good.
They really need to sort out this fella's Spotify, it's a mess. So hard to find the album and half of the discography is silly posthumous compilation things that always annoy me. Anyhow I found the album, it wasn't awful to listen to, but gave no real impression
Clearly NOT my genre so I'll give it a safe 3.
Pretty nice, but I am unqualified to judge
This is just not for me.
Quite trance inducing.
Kul med något man inte riktigt skulle få för sig att lyssna på själv!
Känner inte att jag kan sätta bottenbetyg bara på grund av min brist av intresse av det här, men det här var verkligen inget som jag annars hade lyssnat på.
Glatt o härligt, grym röst, men inte superintressant genom hela albumet tyvärr.
Jodå.
This was an alright album with some cool grooves and vocals that were intriguing but didn't demand my attention. I could see myself putting this on as background music while I work.
Slaps
I had to find this on YouTube because it was not on Apple Music. But searching for it was wild - how many albums did this guy HAVE? They have over 50 listed for 2025 alone, and he died in 1997! Maybe it's a quirk in how qawwali/Indian/Pakistani music is listed on Apple? Whatever the case, this is not a genre I have listened to much and it's not something I am going to seek out, but it was fine enough to listen to in the background. It grew on me as I continued listening.
a bit too exotic for my taste
pas fan
C'est intéressant après c'est des sons random mis ensemble je vois pas trop la logique d'un album. Il a vraiment une super voix mais pas mon style de musique
전통적인 느낌이 듬뿍 느껴지는 노래였다. 노래는 내 스타일은 아니었다. It was a song with a strong traditional feel. It wasn't really my style, though.
Generator ispoštovao mjesec muharrem i dao mi ilahije, hvala lijepo. Ako neko slučajno pročita ovaj komentar mislim da treba znati da je Nusrat nosio titulu "ostad". Prvi ostad s kojim sam se ja susrela je gospodin koji pravi prstenje na kom je oslikan cijeli svijet. Teško zamisliti ali istinito. Znači tako se nazivaju samo ljudi koji su istinski majstori svog zanata. Uklapa mi se i ovdje. Pravi majstor muzike. Da je bar više izvođača ilahija koji se ovoliko trude da ukupni proizvod bude izuzetno vrijedan i duhovno i po muzičkoj vrijednosti.
Pretty neat. Sounds like I kind of expected it to.
After some research I think the actual album in the book is the second disc of the Spotify link. It starts off with the best song “Allah hoo Allah hoo”, but downs really slow down from there. That opening track I think is the catchiest, but the rest of it is good too. He has a very powerful voice that’s perfectly suited to this kind of music, to the point that I wonder if it’s actually him in every generic “Islamic music” clip played in western films. Anyway it was cool to get something like this, almost more for me discovering and reading about the genre than the music itself, which is enjoyable too. I can’t imagine listening to this all the time but it was interesting and different.
Just not for me
I get why this is here: important, influential, and best. This isn't best, but important for the impact. Not my favorite but didn't necessarily hate it.
This is so repetitive. This was not. my favourite.
There's obvious talent behind this, so giving it one star would be wrong. Still, the music did not resonate with me in the slightest, it dragged on for way too long.
Oli kyllä erikoismiehen erikoismusiikkia ja piti pari kertaa pistää pauselle, kun työkavereita tuli toimistolle. Ihan kelpo meininkiä tavallaan. Iloinen ylläri :D
Mietityttää kun jollain levyn biisillä on 45 miljoonaa kuuntelua ja toisella 200000, mutta kaikki on ihan samanlaista hoilausta. Huomaako ne edes että biisi vaihtuu. Noh tätä jäämme pohtimaan.
On kyl helvetin eksoottista tavaraa. Vähän jäi avoimeks mikä levy nyt ois ees pitänyt kuunnella kun spotifyn linkin takana olevat setit ol mitä ol. Toisaalta noinkohan mikään ois muuttunutkaan vaikka ois vähän sivuosumaa tullut. Mut joo, annetaan vaikka kakkonen tasasesta joikaamisesta.
Jollain perverssillä tavalla tykkäsin tästä. Oli eilen aamuvuorossa taustamusiikkina, niin työkaveri tuli kysymään että "mitä vittua?". Siitä tietää että on ainakin jotain onnistunut liikuttamaan. Keskenään toki kaikki ihan samankuuloista omaan korvaan, mutta kyllä mä silti tän parissa viihdyin, vaikka pitkä levy olikin. Ei varmasti koskaan tule palattua tähän, mutta ei missään nimessä harmita että tämä tuli jauhettua.
Virtuosity at an overwhelming level. Pretty potent, best absorbed in bite sized chunks. Makes me want to see it live.
06/24 Boring
I'm not super sure I can handle this, on this 7AM flight from Dallas. Seems fun, kinda a lot right now.
Don't listen to this while driving.
This was different and in a good way. Very peaceful to listen to.
I might be totally ignorant about this kind of thing, but this sort of religious ecstasy doesn't really qualify as music in my book. Probably very well done for what it's supposed to be considering all the praise it gets, but I can't stand it.
A slog
wasnt devoted to this
This record starts off dull but side two bangs.
This was my first time ever listening to Nusrat. I understood going into this album that Jeff Buckley had a deep affection for Nusrat and took a lot of inspiration from his music. I see so many similarities between this and Jeff Buckley. This is a beautiful microtonal (for western listeners) album that has a lot of substance. I see myself coming back to this album in the future, 4 stars.
Islamic religious music is not something I would expect from this list. The album, however, is a great collection of exotic music and, if you think of it, it is the exploration of new stuff that we are up to here. The most surprising on Devotional Songs was that the intro parts of most tracks sounded very Western, to an extent that were it not for a prior knowledge about the author, title and the content of the songs, one could easily expect it to develop as a work of mainstream Western music, and those parts sound really well. Then you have those repetitive spiritual singing parts, backing vocals, claps, and a set rhythm. Music from the album is well balanced in terms of being very moderate and never boring. Ali Khan brings some extended emotion at times, but it does not deprive the songs of that balance. Throughout the album, Ali Khan's style reminded me a lot of Indian/Hisduistic spiritual music. Still, qawwali is terra incognita to me, and I felt like this was a great introduction. I don't know what language of the album is, but I liked how the words are very short and you can recognize their spelling at times even though the only familiar word was "Allah". Favourite song: "Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam", but the opening "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" is great and close to it. That being said, the record still has weaker tracks and its repetitiveness does not bring the same level of joy all the times. Still, that rhythmic approach of Ali Khan as a qawwali musician can be loosely compared with the beats as they are used in some electronic music genres. An overwall great work definitely deserving your attention to have this musical trip into realms not yet discovered.
weird
I hadn't known about this artist, but was surprised that I'd heard this music before. It's cool to learn how much an impact he'd had on Sufi devotional music and greater South Asian musical genres. It's easy for westerners to forget how distinct Islamic tradition like Sufism is for a place like Pakistan, wholly separate in culture from Middle Eastern/North African nations, but still a vital element of Islamic traditional devotional music in a place like South Asia where music is an integral part of how India and Pakistan developed their cultures through music.
I think I’ll bump it up to a three because at least it’s the rare example on this list of foreign music & I accidentally listened to the extended album & didn’t complain! I saw this on a playlist called “House Party” and that’s a very different house party than what I’m use to
I couldn’t find this album streaming anywhere but I did listen to a different one by the Pakistani Scatman
nice ncie
I can definitely not just hear, but FEEL the power of his voice. He’s emotive and exuberant. I think it was brilliant to also make sure there was some echo/reverb effects accompanying the voice (I’m not sure if that’s an after effect or just a result of where this was recorded). In a way, the reverb makes it all seem very other-worldly, or heavenly if you’re open to it. The near-halftime breaking of the rhythm pattern to end song one was a perfect touch. Song 2 “Halka Halka Saroor” threw some melodic arrangements at me that my westernized ears were super intrigued to hear. I lack the knowledge to speak on it beyond saying the progression of the melody and the harmonies of the instruments weren’t anything I was used to, and I really liked it. “Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka” had the most euro-sounding progression to it, which was nice but not a song of note outside of that fact. My pick from this album might be “Haq Ali Ali Haq”, it felt the most tense and dynamic in its melody and its vocal delivery. Slight 4/5. While it gets a bit repetitive, the voice is undeniable and most of it is so joyous
This was a refreshing shift.
3.75
God I miss Devon Ave in Chicago.
Very unique, quite interesting
I can't speak much on this as I cannot understand it, however, I found it rather boring for me and rather long and samey.
Am I going to listen to this everyday, no. But it was beautiful and wonderful. I didn't understand exactly what he was saying, but it didn't matter. It was praising the earth, living and the beauty and joy in this world. I wanted to dance and just love the joy of life. It was long, but also not enough time to be thankful for life
This was long and kind of repetitive, but sometimes musical enjoyment is very situational. Because it was also a total vibe and a great listen laying in a hammock in the woods.
Disc1 was a bit too samey for me in a ‘Happy Clappy’ way. Disc 2 was much better
Wow, this is incredible music. I am missing more of this in this list. Incredible and intense.
Gospel vibes. Fun music even when I can't understand the words the intent is clear!
Chingelchangelmuziek...
feels less like an album to listen to casually and more of something to you know experience and worship alongside. repetitive and trance like. probably not something i'll return to often but glad to have listened to it.
Simply the story of Nusrat and his family is incredible, and the music shows the soul of a tradition that sounds perpetual and evergreen. Loved this!
De las cosas más interesantes que escuché. Me cuesta reseñar este álbum porque al ser de una cultura tan ajena en muchos sentidos es difícil calificar y compararlo con otras piezas. La verdad fue disfrutable y un poco me alegró, sentí mis raíces árabes (es de Pakistán pero bueno) aflorar.
# Album Name: Devotional Songs # Artist: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan # Rating: 1/5 # Comments: Sorry allah, but this one belongs in the bin. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? No
Enjoyed listening very much. Allows me to think about ancient peoples.
Okay.
0.5/5 Nope.
I guess it’s fine, but this album made me fucking hungry. Normally if I’m hearing this sort of music there’s gonna be some lamb or falafel heading my direction soon 🐑🥙 2.5⭐️
It's not unlistenable...and it sounds like they're having a good time (I hope). I would spin this again before Roni Size...or Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.....can't really give it a 1.
Often times I say that everything sounds the same from certain artists. What’s unique here is, that everything sounds the same from this genre. From every artist. All the same wailing high pitched singing over a sitar. It’s all just the same shit over and over. Annoying.
Spiritual Qawwali music. The kind of gem I come to expect when starting this challenge - exposing myself to genres and cultures I am unacquainted with.
Imma certified international playboy now
Super vibey. I can see why Jeff Buckley was so inspired by this and I can see how Jeff worked this style into his own music
There may be beauty here, but not to my ear.
Perfect!
It’s, fine?
rhythmic, indian, sitar like sound. 'wailing' vocals
Yeah okay, was interseting to some Sufi music, but really not my thing, I can see where it comes from but after a while it gives me headache. 1. Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka 2. Haq Ali Ali Haq 3. Mast Narzoon Se Allah Bachhae
das isch huuuere cool bis jetz sie singed immer wieder zeme mega call and response und d melodie sind seeehr cool. s het au huere tempo. ich ha halt keeeein plan um wases goht. de sound isch seehr durchgehend und ich chan niix unterscheide. mösts mehrmols lose zum appreciate glaub. aber s isch cool irgendwie und bin froh hanis mol glost. 3.
upps bin echli hinnedrii nachem greenfield und natürlich isches es 90 min album😍 find er het reeecht e cooli stimm OMG eifach churz en halftime usseghaue han gseh, dass nöd alli lieder uf Spotify sind, aber ich bin jz usnahmswiis z fuul und los jz halt nur öppe e stund vom nusrat hmm ich frög mich um was es gaht bi allah hoo allah hoo find de typisch "arabisch gsang" sooo schön und imene andere kontext ala ichs kenn au mega spannend! omg wo er d instrument "mitsingt", sooo fucking geil?? ali maula fucking banger he ganz ehrlich, mega cool! ich profitiere natürlich, dass ich nöd die gaaanze 90 min glost han aber hans echt tolli musig gfunde
Another first-time listen! I was inadvertently familiar with this artist from his contribution on Peter Gabriel’s score for The Last Temptation of Christ. Frankly, I’m mostly unfamiliar with this type of music in general, so it honestly took a bit to warm up to this album, with some tracks fading into the background. I think by the second half though, I locked in more to the steady build of the tracks and the increasingly ecstatic vocals and instrumentation. Not sure if I’ll ever fully lock in to this genre of music, but I appreciate this project introducing me to one of the highlights. Standout moment: The second track, Yeh Jo Halka Saroor Hae, felt the most immediate and appealing to me on first listen.
So whose bright idea was it to take a 15-second phrase and play it for eight f****ing minutes, and then do that for every track? I'm sure that this is great, if this is your thing, but there wasn't a banger in the bunch.
Rate: 8/10.
Nice to have on the list, but I won’t be revisiting.
I don't really feel equipped to review this in a meaningful way. One of the greatest voices of all time according to Wikipedia, but to my ears it sounds like much devotional/call to prayer music in SE Asia.
Pretty sure I'm completely unqualified to judge this. Put it on and it kind of blended into the background, felt like I was driving my car around Karachi, so I guess that's cool. Would never sit down and just listen to it. Was this that thing in the early 90s when people were trying to listen to World Music™ to sound cultured, irrespective of their actual taste? Coward's 3.
I'm going to really try to listen to this album even though I do not speak the language, have never been exposed to this kind of music, and have never heard of this musician before. I am not sure if this will affect the review, but three songs on Spotify aren't available: "Yaadan Vichhre Sajan Dian Aiyan" with a total of almost 179k plays and "Sanson Ki Mala Pey" with over 15.5m plays on Disc 1, and "Ni Main Jogi De Naal" with a little over 200k plays on Disc 2. as of the time of writing this review. I'll get into my review and reaction to each song. I read through the Wiki while I was listening and learned a lot about this genre of music that I've never heard of. Great read and apparently NFAK is one of the greatest Qawwali singers of all time. "Woh Hata Rahe Hain Pardah" is 8 minutes of cyclical music with truly impressive vocal control. Near the end, you can hear the incredibly popular South Asian and Indian Pop sound. "Yeh Jo Halka Saroor Hae" is 7-1/4 minutes and the most played song on the album. The lyrics translate to a battle with alcohol and knowing shame while indulging in its intoxication. The song progressively gets faster as it plays and is quite intriguing. Again, the vocals are very technically impressive. "Biba Sada Dil Morr De" is 7-1/4 minutes and is about a one-sided love or at least requesting the other half of the relationship to love them back. "Yaadan Vichhre Sajan Dian Aiyan" is not available on my Spotify "Sanson Ki Mala Pey" is not available on my Spotify "Un Ke Dar Pen Pohchne to Payen" is 4 seconds shy of 8 minutes, and is the weakest song up to this point. It's vocal quality has dropped, the musical technicality has dropped in quality, and the audio mix is completely blown out. "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" is 8 minutes and the harmonium comes in STRONG for the first 45 seconds. This song is a powerful devotional song to Allah. "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka" is the lowest plays on the album at 138,578 plays at the time of this review clocks in at 7:37 minutes and is the most Anglo/European sounding song so far. The main and backing vocals are very reminiscent of some experimental Beatles music. "Haq Ali Ali Haq" is a 7.5 minute song and the backing vocals with the drum is honestly a vibe, great song. "Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam" is a 7-3/4 minute song and this song bops. It's got such great trance-like rhythm and groove. It's so easy just to zone out and vibe to it. It reminds me of what house music would sound like if we humans didn't have synthesizers and drum machines. Also NFAK's vocal skills are on showcase at the end with a little super-fast scat improv, good stuff. "Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae" is the shortest song at 6 minutes and 24 seconds. The intro should be extremely recognizable since it's been in a viral song as a sample. Not as catchy as the song before it, but it's a very good song to lose your train of thought to. "Ni Main Jogi De Naal" is not available on my Spotify. Overall I'll personally rate this as a 6/10. I was genuinely surprised and enthralled by this music despite never having heard of this artist or genre before. This is why I'm doing this venture, I came to hear new songs I've never heard before, and I've found some today!
Þetta er vissulega áhugavert og flottur tónlistarstíll, en maður er með óreynd eyru fyrir þessu. Stemmari.
Too long, and not for me.
Fantastic album and great to hear something not in the English language. Fave tracks are Haq Ali Ali Haq and Ni Main Jogi De Naal.
A fantastic vocalist who makes some fantastic contributions to Peter Gabriel's wonderful soundtrack to the 1989 film "The Last Temptation of Christ." These songs are all really good but don't have much applicability outside of their religious context for me to give this more than an objective 3. I think some of his earlier records might be better.
No doubt that he was passionate about his craft, and this list is exactly for stuff like this. But not exactly easy to listen to
Pa renacer, full hongos buenardo
Eine andere Art von Musik. Mal interessant zu hören, die Energie ist spürbar. Ist trotzdem nicht mein Genre. Trotzdem schön, das Album mal gehört zu haben. 2/5
3/5
If I ever get captured at war and subjected to intensive interrogation techniques, I’d quite enjoy the default playlist of continuous, extremely loud death metal. If however, my captors put headphones on me and played 10 minutes of this album, I’d tell them ANYTHING. And I mean anything.
very different from what i usually listen to. I like the world themed instruments but all the songs soundes very similar
Genuinely couldn't tell the difference between any song
Interesting album, reminds me of the one I got from, I think it was Egypt, but I am not sure any more. Anyway this is quite enjoyable however very repetitive and stretches for quite a while. So no more than 3 stars, but I appreciate opportunity to listen outside my comfort zone.
Biba Sada Dil Morr De
One of the great things I’ve discovered so far doing this project is some of the music from different parts of the world that I never would’ve discovered on my own and this is another great addition to that list. It did take me a couple of tracks to get into it but once I did I enjoyed it more and more with every song. Top Track - Biba Sada Dil Morr De
Could be great, not my idea of a good sound, couldn't get into it.
I enjoyed this, but I think I would like it better in smaller doses to listen to it again.
Devotional Songs seems to be available on streaming services as a double album with Love Songs... I imagine I'd get more from this album if I understood the words, but I'm a monoglot anglophone so it all becomes acoustic background.
Glad to have listened to this album. Although I wish the book picked one of the hundreds of albums from the artist available on Apple Music. It wasn't some life changing revelation or gateway to a whole new genre. But I enjoyed my time with it, and feel like I know a bit more about one artist in this genre now.
Situations where I’ve thought South Asian music was good: A) In India, where it was part of the cultural experience B) In a curryhouse, and who doesn’t love a curry C) Listening to The Beatles, and therefore not actually listening to South Asian music at all. Strip these things away and this kind of music does nothing for me.
There are 300 albums of his on Apple Music but somehow this isn’t one of them.
A bit too religious for me, and it's definitely repetitive. But it does have interesting sounds.
Eastern music. So enigmatic and repetitive
Tja.. Har hørt et annet av han før som jeg likte mer (Mustt Mustt)..
I do not enjoy this kind of music.
Unfortunately, I don't really have anything interesting to say about this album. It was pleasant world music.
i don’t really want to listen to music about god that also isn’t available on spotify
Yeesh Fave track: Yeh Jo Halka Saroor Hae
Not for me habibi. 2/5
This album was pretty hard to pin down - seems to be part of a compilation in the places I looked. Nevertheless, this guy has an exceptional voice and it's a joy to listen to. No favourite tracks per se, but just an amazing vibe all round.
Desde o início foi muito interessante de ouvir esse álbum. Gosto do sentimento da música indiana (nesse causo paquistanesa) diferenciada, com instrumentos diferenciados e microtons. Mas as músicas duram mais do que deveriam, deve ser pelo estilo devocional mesmo.
a nice change of pace
I like this Indian style of music. it is calming and different and nice to listen to. Oddly enough it was right here on the album generator that I heard similar music a while back and kind of loved it. The thing is it is a touch better, in my opinion, to this. So in a kind of comparative way this is okay. It does the job of the genre, peaceful, easy to breathe to. yet it will remain that there are other artists within the genre that are "even better" to listen to. So yeah, it is not unworthy, but if you like it, dig a bit deeper.
No idea what this is about or why it is on the list but I liked it
Proof that western music is just better
I don’t want to listen to devotional music for any faith. But if I must, I do prefer that I can’t understand the language.
I'm going to assume that the YouTube playlist I listened to was this album... It sounds like this guy was known as a pretty iconic qawwali singer. I can hear that, although I don't really have many other similar performers to compare to in this case. The content on this album didn't really do any favors however, as things got repetitive pretty quickly.
Not exactly my cup of tea, would love to know what was being said. Songs were quite long, listened whilst coding and was actually productive, probably won't revisit but interesting listen.
not for me
I’m good
#930. No I dea what the fuck he's talking about, but it sounds good to me. 3/5: good enough.
What? Huh? Music from a part of the world that isn't near where I live??? I hate experiencing other cultures noooo. While I jest, I do find that popular music rarely transcends cultural boundaries, at least for me. Not counting indigenous music or "scenes" of genres I’m familiar with; the stuff that hits the charts in far flung locales is usually as perturbing to me as the schlock that appears on the charts on this accursed continent. I find it very strange that there are so few inclusions on this list from Asia, and yet we throw in a token record from certified power hoss (google the guy) Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It almost would have made more sense to just not have this record? It seems like an extremely random inclusion. I'm not going to skewer this because I know absolutely nothing about it. I really enjoyed the intensity of the vocals here. Dude was a beast. I personally thought most of the melodies were extremely sunny and boring but the insane nutso shrieking warmed my heart. The worst part about this record is my review. 2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: The Islamabad Unit Shifter
Islamic spirituals??? Interesting. Whatever. Actually. Really awesome. “Allah Hoo” has the same melody as one of my favorite Jewish spirituals, that being “hallelu.” Though a bit repetitive it’s incredibly beautiful, and I have a definite soft spot for songs of divine devotion, especially when they’re as passionate as this. This guy’s voice… it’s beautiful, and powerful, and resounding. The song structures across the album are really nice and interesting as well, and keep me looking forward to the next song. It’s actually a really dynamic album, which I didn’t at all expect. Each song is beautiful, and I really enjoy it as a whole, as well as song to song. 8.5/10
I thought this was good and nice! I should listen to it more attentively.
I really didnt like this. I turned it off.
I... well... give me some hallucinagenic cactus juice and I'd probably buy into this. It's not a great album as a non-religious English woman driving to and from work, but I could listen to this at a festival, round the fire, high as shit and get into my not-spiritual-spiritual-chillzone. Aaaaaaalllaaaaaahhhhhhoooooooo🖖☮️
That was interesting. I've never listened (intentionally) to a full album of this style of music. I'm not sure I will again - it's never been a sound that resonates for me. Still, I'm grateful to have the exposure from this list.
Трохи дивний тут вибір "незахідної музики". Я не можу сказати, що мені сподобалося, але й якогось негативу теж немає. Другий раз я б не увімкнув.
Важко якось оцінювати подібну музику. Реально сподобалась пісня Allah Hoo. А так не знаю навіть, ще й не всі пісні доступні на спотіку. Поставлю 3.
An interesting listen
Not my cup of chai
Not for me
couldnt get all the songs from album, but actually isnt half bad. couldnt give higher rating because didnt have all the songs
first listen fun but just alright
Meh
I respect it just isn’t for me 4.3/10
I do not speak arabic but nevertheless can appreciate this guy's voice. I also enjoyed the use of instruments that I don't normally hear.
The music was interesting, but I had a hard time with the singing
Two 1-star albums in a row--woof!
About 100 albums in, I have come to dislike double albums and the overrepresentation of Anglo-Saxon rock bands from 1966 until 1986 or so. After listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for 1,5 hours, I’ll only ever complain about double albums again.
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
And you did it at my birthday dinner
I like this type of music as I liked "Krishna temple" by George Harrison a lot and like devotional music. So I'm biased and I understand why people dislike th is,
It’s like I’m sitting in the Indian restaurant
Disc 2 > Disc 1
Better than Mariah Carey’s bullshit.
Not available on Apple Music
I have a feeling that if I understood the lyrics I wouldn't like this. But I really enjoy the droning beats and singing. It's not something I'm going to sit down and listen to, but it makes pretty excellent background music.
A cool addition to the list for expanding the pallet. That being said, while I'm coming around on Indian music, this one didn't really scratch that itch for me. Just felt tedious.
what the fuck
Wow! This got some attention when it came out and people like Eddie Vedder and Jeff Buckley were fans, so I knew the name but had never listened. This manages to be instantly engaging despite being a style of music I haven't listened to before. Will definitely seek him out
Interesting music, fun to listen to, though it gets a little samey after a while. It does get mixed with some foreign influences in the instrumentation, which I liked. An interesting experience. 3.5/5
Powerful, beautiful voice. I was not familiar with qawwali, but it is a beautiful music style. I see that he did collaborations with western musicians and was a big part of world music. You can hear it. The type of Indian music that is more appealing to me was that played by the likes of Ravi Shankar or Shakti, but this is brilliant music as well.
Well, it's jaunty.
Too much of a cultural gap for me to really have a feel for it. It didn't really do much for me, but I can respect that it is likely good at what it is trying to do
I surprised myself by really enjoying this album! I liked the vibes and the instrumentals -- there was a lot of repetitiveness that sat right with me. A good album for doing housework or studying.
I'm not completely sure I listened to the right tracks, but I think I did! Apart from finding each individual track quite long, I enjoyed this: I liked the blend of voices and instruments, the energy, and the fervour. I also enjoyed seeing my husband, who lived in Pakistan for a while, dancing round the living room to it.
I appreciate the musicianship and vibes, but it’s just not for me. I could never find the groove.
Ei ymmärrystä kielestä ja ei muutenkaan osunut itselle.
This was a good qawwali party!
Roligt med något annorlunda och sångtekniskt imponerande. Jag hade en härlig lyssning, mest kanske för att det blev ett sånt avbrott mot allt annat. Dock var en lyssning lagom och jag kommer nog inte lyssna igen.
Coolt och vackert, men jag tröttnar lite efter ett tag. En trea!
Jävligt kul när sånt här bisarrt dyker upp! Hellre det än nån medioker brittisk indie från 1997 som fallit i glömska av goda skäl. Det här var ändå ball! Riktig jävla dunderpipa på Nusrat. Man är inte direkt någon pakistansk religiös musik-konnässör, så trodde nog det skulle vara mer utmanande lyssning än vad det faktiskt var. Inte så mikrotonalt som jag trodde utan rätt västligt och bekant i grunden. Jävligt peppigt dessutom och riktigt shreddigt gitarrspel och svängigt trummande. Allah hoo Allah hoo, kan bli sufisk muslim för mindre!
Lättare att lyssna på än vad jag trodde men ändå otroligt svårt att betygsätta på en lyssning - där drog jag gränsen! Den lyssningen var dock ganska nice rakt igenom. Tröttnade bara lite på slutet så får bli en trea.
fräls mig
Älskade texterna. hihihi
Great voice
Ok. The basement dwelling needs have decided that you need to hear this. It is an excellent example of this stuff. But you need context. How may who will rave about this will also condemn Islam in a blanket way. I’m not Muslim nor any religion - if anything I’m gnostic - but Sufism is a beautiful expression of human spiritual experience. How many realise Sufism is Islamic? How many condemn blindly a religion they don’t understand all the time praising this to seem cosmo and multi-culti. High rating for listening experience.
It's just not my thing especially as a Saturday morning listen. I'm across who he is, he did a Womad once a thousand years ago. I remember he garnered a lot of attention (might have been the final night headline act), partly due to to the melting pot of Islamic and Punjabi cultural influences he'd appropriated to create what was seen within this genre as a unique sound. So I get all that, and I do like the fact that outside of the Western appropriation discourse it similarly happened in the diverse mix of Islamic cultural contexts. Who'd have thunk it eh? A curio for me and very hard to assess in terms of needing to hear it before I die. Would I listen to it again, no.
I once went record shopping in Singapore. Most of the record stores I went to were tiny boutique stores in small malls adjacent to hi-fi stores, massage parlours and laksa stalls. They were well curated with amazing (but expensive) collectibles, obviously catering to the same audiophile clientele who would spend $12k on a turntable at the shop next door. But there was also the Red Point Record Warehouse. You caught a subway half a dozen stops, then walked a kilometer or two down the highway until you reached a factory building, rode the freight elevator to the upper floors, there, at the end of a hallway, sits a literal warehouse of vinyl. They had thousands of Western records, but also thousands of SE Asian and Indian music records in their own huge sections. It is really easy to forget sometimes that there are enormous and vibrant musical traditions with their own industries that are almost completely separate to popular Western music. This 1001 list is heavily weighted towards Western music; even most of the 'world music' inclusions are pretty Westernized. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is a good example of a musician who is a towering presence and huge star within a musical tradition that barely touches on Western audiences. He recorded 125 albums in his career, which is particularly amazing given he died at the relatively young age of 48. It is hard to know where to start with a body of work that huge, especially for a musical tradition that operates on some very different assumptions than most of the music usually listen to. I will give some credit to Peter Gabriel for the work he did to try to expose Western audiences to some of the superstars of other musical traditions through his WOMAD festivals and Real World studio and label. Would Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ever have appeared on a list like this if Gabriel hadn't recorded and released this album? I appreciate that there are only minimal compromises here to Western sensibilities in recording this record -- the production quality and inclusion of some subtle acoustic guitar (to provide some harmonic foundation?) -- and the Party seem to be doing what they regularly do. It does not fall into the trap of some Real World releases, where disparate "world" elements are clumsily grafted onto some stock dance beats to create a kind of musical mélange that plays well at festivals but is not very satisfying (Afro Celt Sound System, I'm looking at you). I cannot understand a word of what is being sung here, but I can clearly comprehend the passion of the singing. I can see why Jeff Buckley described Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as "my Elvis" -- he sings with passion and seeming abandon, although you can hear his technical precision behind the emotion. It is quite extraordinary. I can't say I fully understand what is going on all the time, but it is compelling, even to this poor ignorant soul. I find myself drifting into meditative state. 3.5 stars, rounding up
Deliciously hypnotic and energising. New to me. Loved this.
I liked the vibe, but it felt like a forced pick.
“Trust me guys, I know more than just western music, see?”
I listened to an YouTube playlist of Nusrat's devotional songs, it was unclear if this was 'the' album, or if there is even an actual 'album'. These artists who are insanely successful in other countries are always interesting but I struggle to understand them. Liked the general off kilter rhythms of quite a few of the songs but they generally sounded sounded like a repetitive chant to keep time to. Completely out of my wheelhouse, enjoyed the listen but wasn't inclined to seek out more. 3?
Appreciate the non-English language music, didn't appreciate this. Just not very interesting and quite long. Didn't find it nearly as hypnotic as others seem to have.
Nice to have some none English music on the list but I must admit this did nothing for me. Not offensive, just not my thing 1.5
I guess. Not so sure about that. It was fine.
Pretty cool how hypnotic this music can be
This is pretty cool (the version on YouTube).
not for me
Just a bit much for me.
Notables: - Allah Hoo Allah Hoo - Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka
That’s a bit too Middle Eastern for my taste. I usually hear music like that coming from the overpowered show-off cars of our little friends from Asia Minor in the inner-city ghettos. And even there, I don’t enjoy it. 1/5
Not for me. For something devotional I found it quite harsh and jarring. And it’s very samey
Great voice, banging instrumentation. Love it.
Never!
The musicianship is clearly impressive, and the singer had strong pipes, but the music is not for me. I am unlikely to go back to this.
For religious music, it's pretty pleasant to listen to.
Jeetje, 1,5 uur dit. Is me niet gelukt
¿Qué mierda es esto?
Like Colton, I am an uncultured swine.
What was that… never heard of this artist and will probably not revisit… but that music had feeling and I appreciate that.
I struggle with a lot of world music. I slimmed this listen down to the original six songs on the “Devotional Songs” album. And, while I don’t anticipate ever listening to any of these songs again, I found moments of enjoyment. And yes, I’m an uncultured swine. 4/10 Acceptable
I totaly get what he’s saying
I don’t wanna listen to normal Paul Simon, let alone Pakistani Paul Simon
IDK man I can't really get into this.
It was okay!
I guess this album has deep significance for the right audience but I am not part of that audience.
Das macht Spaß!
This isn’t for me, and that’s okay!
Cool stuff. I don't know what he's saying so a lot of the music blends together. But I enjoyed listening to it. I could see myself putting this on for background music while working. But this is the kind of stuff that I like getting exposed to on this list.
As far as devotional music goes, this wasn't bad.
3 out of 5. Nice in a world music way but it all started to blend after a while.
Alright
Enjoyable in small doses but still listenable for the whole album.
difficult to find. not sure if I heard the right album, but the music was good.
Something different I wouldn’t have heard without this list. I thought it was really good. And every song was unique to itself, they didn’t all blend together like I feared they might. 4/5
pretty nice
Not horrible, but didn't do much for me.
His voice is powerul and captivating. The passion certainly shines through. The music is simple but melodic. The songs drag on a bit. Not something I would listen to actively but not opposed to it by any means.
Legendary!!
I appreciated the time with this, wish it grew on me a little bit more as it continued
Christian rock could learn a thing or two from this album. I think contemporary Christian music is a cop-out genre because you can just make a poorly written song, say how much you love god, and top the chart. When people hate on it, fans say the hate is because it's religious. Then you go and look at Qawwali music, and I'm sure there are some that miss the boat, but I've never heard a Qawwali song that wasn't at least an 8/10. This whole album slaps.
Fun!
No thanks. No offense, but not really very interesting at all.
The songs in this album are really long, and they seem to be quite niche, so I assume there is a special part of the world that enjoys them a lot, as some of the songs have a really high number of listens, but it's overall not too bad. Not really my thing though.