Member:
Ursula
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by Ursula)
Date:
11/10/2007
Format:
CD (Album)
In recent times the oxymoron that is “traditional prog” is experiencing an infusion that could be designed to put the “progress” back into prog. In other words, progressive rock is beginning to develop new forms by adding elements from what is so unspecifically called world music to prog's own conventions.
Just recently BBC Scotland dedicated a music programme called Global Gathering to this phenomenon, alas without ever using the word 'prog'. The BBC were directing their attention at musicians and musical collaborations who combined world music with modern music styles, like rock, fusion and jazz. This resulted often in something not unlike Mawwal's music. The difference between Mawwal and those other bands is that Mawwal's musicians come from a prog background, drawing on its conventions and fan base.
Apart from the, for prog, more common instruments like guitar, bass, drums and vocals Mawwal employs also lute, violin and generously percussions. The percussions are setting the tone, or rather the rhythm, as Mawwal is interpreting African/Arabian traditional music. In consequence the music doesn't distinguish itself through complicated changes in time signature. As a matter of fact, this music is danceable. Belly dancing that is!
The lyrics are in English and Arabic and both languages contribute sound-wise equally well to the music without giving the impression of stylistic incongruity. Perhaps a translation of the Arabic lyrics would have been a good idea because the band describes, on their homepage, the term mawwal as “a form of popular song and often criticizes society and introduces a lot of morals and values related to the common person.” If there is a relevant message in the music it is lost on me.
What distinguishes the music from 'normal' world music are features like lengthy guitar solos in a jazz/ fusion style and interesting melody lines played by the violin. Also the prog typically plays with counter melodies making for interesting passages. Harmony dominates the overall impression without drifting into the pompous or sugary symphonic style, not least thanks to the tension between world music and prog and the occasional dissonant chord.
As the music is based on traditionals there are natural limits as to which extremes Mawwal can take the music. Yet, with Black Flies they successfully combined two genres to something that is worth a listening and might offer the long standing prog fan a fresh take on an old passion - a kind of global prog.
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