Masters Of Iraqi Music

A nice historical recording of Daoud and Saleh Al-Kuwaity, a pair of Kuwaiti brothers active in Kuwaiti and Iraqi music from the 1930s to the '50s. Interestingly, the brothers were at the core of the Jewish community in the region, though primarily performing strongly Arab melodies. On this album, through the fairly dated sounding recordings with all of their inherent warping and scratching (remastering can only do so much, after all), eight songs of longing and heartbreak are put forth on the oud and violin, with an occasional chorus added to the mix. While the brothers are known for their instrumental abilities, it's really the vocals that come through most strongly on the set, the instruments awash in the outdated recordings. When the brothers start singing, though, the emotional poetry, with its focus on the power of dark eyes and distance between lovers, comes through. Probably better suited for listeners with a cultural-historical bent, but the brothers were performers of the highest caliber, and deserve a spin by any fan of Arab music. ~ Adam Greenberg|