SurfGuitar101.com | Forums: Oud!

wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Nov 17 2007 01:28 AM

My boss recently lent me an album "Barzakh" of contemporary oudist Anouar Brahem. This is my first taste of any oud music and I've gotta say it's totally blown me away. The sound and playing style have got me hooked--fluttering dramatic exotic melodies executed with a sharp precise attack, mixed with slower really mysterious songs that still keep my attention.
This guy Brahem is really amazing. He can own any living surf guitarist in the double-picking department. I've noticed how bits and pieces of songs strike me as sounding really surfy in structure, which is probably part of the reason this stuff seems to grab me.
I'm really keen on hearing some more (and maybe more traditional) oud work now. Does anybody know anything about the oud, or oudists past and present? Anyone else dig this stuff?

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wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Nov 17 2007 01:30 AM

For context, here's a youtube video with one of Brahem's songs. I don't know what the subject matter of the video is, but the song is one of my personal favorites on this album.

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tenderfoot

Joined: Feb 01, 2007
Posts: 308
Ellicott City, Maryland

Posted on Nov 17 2007 07:09 AM

great song. Maybe someone with a lot of talent could cover it as a surf song. not me

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Kojack

Joined: Jul 29, 2006
Posts: 110
Menomonie, Wisconsin USA
United States

Posted on Nov 17 2007 07:20 AM

That's wonderful music. Thanks for the link. While I don't have any knowlege about oud-based music, I applaud to efforts to expand your listening horizions and incorporate those new sounds into your playing.

That's a good place to nurture new and exciting music.

Cheers,
Chuck

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 675
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Nov 17 2007 12:12 PM

You won't believe this one!

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19267
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Nov 17 2007 12:24 PM

wooza
For context, here's a youtube video with one of Brahem's songs. I don't know what the subject matter of the video is, but the song is one of my personal favorites on this album.

Sounds like the intro to a Madeira song! Very cool.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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Spud

Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Posts: 666
Oz
3 News Pins

Posted on Nov 17 2007 06:43 PM

I liked it as well, very peaceful music, makes me think of a hot afternoon on the verandah sipping on a drink kicking back as a cool breeze blows past.

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wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Nov 18 2007 12:53 AM

Brian
Sounds like the intro to a Madeira song! Very cool.

tenderfoot
great song. Maybe someone with a lot of talent could cover it as a surf song. not me

Listening to this album I keep catching lots of aspects that I think would really work in a surf context, which is probably why the Madeira seem to make the Middle Eastern/surf fusion work so well.
I don't think a direct cover of these songs in their entirety would work structurally surf-wise, but proper arranging and tweaking could yield a pretty cool end product I think. There's one song in particular that's got me worked up wanting to take a stab at a cover. My plan is to try and arrange it into a slightly more surf-friendly form, fail miserably, and get depressed about what could have been.

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tenderfoot

Joined: Feb 01, 2007
Posts: 308
Ellicott City, Maryland

Posted on Nov 18 2007 10:38 AM

wooza
I don't think a direct cover of these songs in their entirety would work structurally surf-wise, but proper arranging and tweaking could yield a pretty cool end product I think. There's one song in particular that's got me worked up wanting to take a stab at a cover. My plan is to try and arrange it into a slightly more surf-friendly form, fail miserably, and get depressed about what could have been.

go for it! anything worthwhile requires some risk, and taking risks helps keep the music alive.

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wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Nov 17 2007 01:28 AM My boss recently lent me an album "Barzakh" of contemporary oudist Anouar Brahem. This is my first taste of any oud music and I've gotta say it's totally blown me away. The sound and playing style have got me hooked--fluttering dramatic exotic melodies executed with a sharp precise attack, mixed with slower really mysterious songs that still keep my attention. This guy Brahem is really amazing. He can own any living surf guitarist in the double-picking department. I've noticed how bits and pieces of songs strike me as sounding really surfy in structure, which is probably part of the reason this stuff seems to grab me. I'm really keen on hearing some more (and maybe more traditional) oud work now. Does anybody know anything about the oud, or oudists past and present? Anyone else dig this stuff? Top
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Nov 17 2007 01:30 AM For context, here's a youtube video with one of Brahem's songs. I don't know what the subject matter of the video is, but the song is one of my personal favorites on this album. Top
tenderfoot Joined: Feb 01, 2007 Posts: 308 Ellicott City, Maryland	Posted on Nov 17 2007 07:09 AM great song. Maybe someone with a lot of talent could cover it as a surf song. not me Top
Kojack Joined: Jul 29, 2006 Posts: 110 Menomonie, Wisconsin USA	Posted on Nov 17 2007 07:20 AM That's wonderful music. Thanks for the link. While I don't have any knowlege about oud-based music, I applaud to efforts to expand your listening horizions and incorporate those new sounds into your playing. That's a good place to nurture new and exciting music. Cheers, Chuck Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 675 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Nov 17 2007 12:12 PM You won't believe this one! Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19267 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Nov 17 2007 12:24 PM wooza For context, here's a youtube video with one of Brahem's songs. I don't know what the subject matter of the video is, but the song is one of my personal favorites on this album. Sounds like the intro to a Madeira song! Very cool. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
Spud Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 666 Oz	Posted on Nov 17 2007 06:43 PM I liked it as well, very peaceful music, makes me think of a hot afternoon on the verandah sipping on a drink kicking back as a cool breeze blows past. Top
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Nov 18 2007 12:53 AM Brian Sounds like the intro to a Madeira song! Very cool. tenderfoot great song. Maybe someone with a lot of talent could cover it as a surf song. not me Listening to this album I keep catching lots of aspects that I think would really work in a surf context, which is probably why the Madeira seem to make the Middle Eastern/surf fusion work so well. I don't think a direct cover of these songs in their entirety would work structurally surf-wise, but proper arranging and tweaking could yield a pretty cool end product I think. There's one song in particular that's got me worked up wanting to take a stab at a cover. My plan is to try and arrange it into a slightly more surf-friendly form, fail miserably, and get depressed about what could have been. Top
tenderfoot Joined: Feb 01, 2007 Posts: 308 Ellicott City, Maryland	Posted on Nov 18 2007 10:38 AM wooza I don't think a direct cover of these songs in their entirety would work structurally surf-wise, but proper arranging and tweaking could yield a pretty cool end product I think. There's one song in particular that's got me worked up wanting to take a stab at a cover. My plan is to try and arrange it into a slightly more surf-friendly form, fail miserably, and get depressed about what could have been. go for it! anything worthwhile requires some risk, and taking risks helps keep the music alive. Top

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