Immortal Egypt
This, the third pairing of Brit multi-instrumentalist Thornton and Egyptian percussionist Ramzy, further explores Middle Eastern dance motifs in a contemporary setting. Recording the basic tracks in the U.K., they went to Cairo and invited some of the top local musicians to collaborate. Flute, violin,ney,aud,rebala, and accordion flesh out these extended, ambient grooves in an evocative, textural tapestry aimed as much at the mind as at the feet. Reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's film scoring,Immortal Egypthas, with all its participants, enough cultural pedigree to satisfy World Music fans and sonic construction to please the headphone listener, but is probably too gentle for dance clubs, except for the most subtle sashaying.--Derek Rath