Trance
Studio album by
Hassan Hakmoun and Zahar
Released1993
StudioReal World Studios (Wiltshire)
GenreGnawa music[1]
Length57:16
LabelReal World[2]
ProducerSimon Emmerson
Hassan Hakmoun and Zahar chronology
Gift of the Gnawa
(1992)		 Trance
(1993)		 The Fire Within
(1995)

Trance is an album by the Moroccan musician Hassan Hakmoun.[3][4] It was released in 1993.[5] He is credited with his band, Zahar.[6] Hakmoun supported the album by playing "The Musical World of Islam" concert series, in 1993, as well as Woodstock '94.[7][8]

Production

Recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios, in Wiltshire, England, the album was produced by Simon Emmerson.[9][10] Hakmoun played the sintir, an instrument similar to a three-stringed bass.[11] He was backed on many tracks by Egyptian percussion.[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Calgary HeraldB+[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[10]

The Chicago Reader wrote that Hakmoun "transplanted the mysteriously powerful trance-out grooves of Gnawa music into a vital, contemporary sound without watering down its primal spirit."[15] The Guardian determined that "all but one of the songs are underpinned by muscular percussion, and veer from mesmeric Arabic chanting to bursts of jazz fusion, sax solos, frenzied guitar work, or—strangest of all—a Moroccan interpretation of Jamaican ragga."[16]

The Calgary Herald stated that Hakmoun's "voice reaches deep and soars high while singing of human love, of the ways of Allah," writing that the music incorporates "rock and funk, percussive Afro-jazz grooves, buoyed by wild guitar riffs and sax solos."[13] The Edmonton Journal deemed the album "innovative, vibrant Afro-beat."[17] Rolling Stone concluded: "Black Moroccan Gnawa funk rock, Trance is a world fusion that works—even the obligatory hiphop mix is on the dime."[11]

AllMusic wrote: "From the Hendrix-in-a-fez riff of 'Bania' to the fuzz-box nirvana of 'Challaban', Trance asserts psychedelic sovereignty over Moroccan sensibilities that hippie hash-heads once claimed as their own music base."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Bania"5:48
2."Only One God (Maaboud Allah)"10:03
3."Soudan Minitara" (Bumbastic Mix)8:04
4."Challaban"8:18
5."Soutanbi" (recorded live at World in the Park (Bath) on 15 August 1992)5:52
6."Soulalahoalih"4:17
7."Alal Wahya Alal" (Trance Mix)6:07
8."The Sun Is Gone"4:56
9."Soudan Minitara"3:51

References

  1. ↑ Michel, Sia (January 15, 2007). "Stomping With Sintirs as a Route to Trance" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ↑ Dorian, Frederick; Duane, Orla; McConnachie, James (April 15, 1999). "World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Blumenfeld, Larry (Apr 1995). "The road to Morocco". DownBeat. 62 (4): 10.
  4. ↑ Nazareth, Errol (September 24, 1993). "A WALK ON THE WORLDLY SIDE". Toronto Sun. p. S12.
  5. ↑ Juang, Richard M.; Morrissette, Noelle (March 12, 2008). "Africa and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History [3 volumes]: Culture, Politics, and History". ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ Talvi, Silja J.A. (November 8, 2002). "HASSAN HAKMOUN'S GIFT TO HIS AUDIENCE". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. P46.
  7. ↑ Pareles, Jon (3 Oct 1993). "In Islamic Music, a Search for Ecstasy". The New York Times. p. A34.
  8. ↑ Considine, J.D. (15 Aug 1994). "It was muddy and muddled and worth it". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1D.
  9. ↑ Feist, Daniel (17 Feb 1995). "Mesmerizing music". The Gazette. p. D6.
  10. 1 2 MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 313.
  11. 1 2 3 McLane, Daisann (Apr 21, 1994). "Global beat". Rolling Stone (680): 90.
  12. 1 2 "Trance - Hassan Hakmoun and Zahar | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. 1 2 Muretich, James (19 Dec 1993). "RECENT RELEASES". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  14. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 69.
  15. ↑ Margasak, Peter (July 27, 1995). "Hassan Hakmoun". Chicago Reader.
  16. ↑ Denselow, Robin (24 Sep 1993). "World Music". The Guardian. The Guardian Features Page.
  17. ↑ Levesque, Roger (31 Dec 1993). "Real World sounds really taking root". Edmonton Journal. p. E4.
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