Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - The Last Prophet (1994)

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - The Last Prophet (1994)

MP3 | 192 kbps | RS.com | 93mb | Covers

Genre: World / Qawwali

Cduniverse.com:
Qawwali is the devotional music of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, which originated in the 10th century in what is present-day Iran. The word qawwali means utterance, and the qawwal, meaning a wise or philosophical utterance, is the voice of (or the mouthpiece of) divine power. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the best qawwali singer of his generation, and this 1994 CD documents this legend's brilliant vocal abilities. All four tracks revolve around love and/or worship.

"Maki Madni" is a chant sung by Nusrat and party to the prophet Muhammad. "Sahib Teri Bandi" is centered on the ecstatic love a woman has for an unknown spiritual leader or Sufi saint. "Gunj-E-Shakar" was written to celebrate the Sufi saint, Baba Farid Shakar Gunj. Finally, the story of "Sochan Dongian" revolves around the deep depression of a woman who has been rejected by her lover. In a hypnotic and passionate recording, Nusrat and company will take you on a musical ride as mesmerizing as it is educational.

Amazon.com essential recording:
The Last Prophet functions as an excellent, easy-on-the-ears introduction to the great Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his party. Featuring rarer selections of the ensemble's extensive repertoire and recorded without reverb effect, the CD meshes the party's amazing vocal art into songs that contain all the fervor that is the nature of qawwali while still retaining a rhythmic, melodious sound familiar to Westerners. "Maki Madni" is a luxurious, two-tempoed tune growing into a wonderful, exploding chorus in praise of Muhammad; "Gunj-E-Shakar" is special in its portentous, urgent cadence. While Nusrat's vocal expertise isn't as incredibly full and wide-ranged as in earlier recordings, this CD is still the better pick for those in need of a Nusrat introduction that's lighter in intensity than the wildest, most intense Nusrat and party. --Karen Karleski

Allmusic.com:
By the time Nusrat returned to Real World Studios to record this set of four long pieces, he was an international phenomenon. The music he and his "party" perform, qawwali, goes back to the tenth century origins of Islam's mystical branch, Sufism. The art is the sonic counterpart to the whirling dervishes of Turkey. Just as the mantra-like repetition of the whirling motion deepens the trace of the dervishes and their audience, the repetition of lines in a qawwali piece deepens the expression of the ideas and sentiments within the words. Almost a decade after Nusrat first performed at Womad and alerted the non-Islamic world of his extraordinary voice and music, this session finds him at the height of his powers. Unlike the Love Songs and Devotional Songs Real World released in 1992, these fresh recordings allow Nusrat and his musicians to stretch out, in one case over 20 minutes, letting the group deliver its full-press spiritual punch. The opener, "Maki Madni," celebrates Muhammad, the "last prophet." It also plays like an 18-minute pop song, with a refrain so sweet and memorable that the time just vanishes. The party appears here in classic form, with tablas and harmonium establishing the harmony and rhythm, male singers swelling around Nusrat's central vocal and using hand claps to drive the tempo. At times, Nusrat gets a rough, tearing quality in his voice here, which only heightens the emotion. Meanwhile, the high, sailing voice of his nephew is particularly intense on this recording, making an evocative contrast. This would be Nusrat's last pure qawwali session at Real World Studio. Even without that sad distinction, it's a recording for the ages. ~ Banning Eyre

Performers:
Asad Ali Khan - Choir, Chorus
Dildar Khan - Tabla
Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan - Harmonium, Vocals
Ghulum Farid - Choir, Chorus
Khalid Mahmond - Choir, Chorus
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Harmonium, Main Performer, Vocals
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - Choir, Chorus
Rehmet Ali - Choir, Chorus

Tracks:
01. Maki Madni
02. Sahib Teri Bandi
03. Ganj-E-Shakar
04. Sochan Dongian

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