Jon Balke’s Siwan: Hafla

Leading a team of exotic instrumentalists such as  Mona Boutchebak/voc-oud, Derya Turkan/kemence, Pedram Khavar Zamini/tomback, Bjarte Eike/vi and Per Buhre/voc-viola, Jon Balke brings his own tombak, keyboards and electronics to create Iberian and Mediterranean atmospheric journeys. Boutchebak’s Middle Eastern nasally voice brings mystery to the dark strings of “Tarraquab”  while undulating to the percussion of “Dialogo en la Noche”. There’s a sensuous patience to the clippety clop to “Wadadtu” whle the percussion  percolates alongside the dancing strings on the dramatic “Arrihu Aqwadu Ma Yakunu Li-Annaha”. Buhre recites a poem around angelic voices on “Is There no Way” while “Visita” is a gorgeously poetic recitative. The music takes you to lands of caravans and moonless, starry nights.

www.ecmrecords.com

Leave a Reply