The Master Musicians of Jajouka: Apocalypse Across the Sky
Although they'd recorded for theRolling Stones' Brian Jones and played with jazz supremoOrnette Coleman, Morocco's Master Musicians had never really been caught in true sonic clarity until producerBill Laswellvisited them in their village of Jajouka to document their music. And clear it is; the interplay of instruments, drums, and voices is captured with stunning fidelity, bringing their particular brand of trance music right into your living room. The musicians, under the leadership of Bachir Attar, are in superb form, doing what's been done for almost as long as history itself. They feel the music, making for a natural flow on Attar's compositions, which sound as old as the Rif Mountains where they're performed. If you want to hear the Master Musicians as they really are, this is the record to buy.--Chris Nickson