Azam Ali

This CD will hold its own in years to come. Every song is well crafted. There are not many albums that you can listen to straight through; this one is an exception. You won't regret purchasing this. Beautiful.

I "discovered" Azam Ali by accident. I can't even remember where I first heard Reverie, but it haunted my thoughts until I finally purchased this disc. My review will be brief. Too many words could spoil this. It saddens me any tie I see someone refer to an artist like this as a "closet goth". It seems any time a lower key or brooding nature is given to music, it gets labeled as some way being "goth-like". I call BS. This is a melodic, yet fairly low key beat laden disc graced by what can only be described as one of the most amazing voices ever. Maybe I missed it, but why has no one ever mentioned Ofra Haza when talking about Azam? The comparison is deserved.

My husband likes this cd very much. His choice when drifting off to sleep.

What can I say other than it's the most sensuous CD this side of an "X" rating.

A very relaxing cd. She has a great voice and great lyrics. If you like this one, also check out her band Vas.

This is a great cd, lost songs from Medieval Europe are resurrected by the genius artist Azam Ali. When I purchased this cd a couple months ago I didn't know it would be one of my favorite cds in my collection. Azam's vocals are perfect - that is the only word I can use to describe them. Her haunting tunes get stuck in your head with only one listen, and beg to be listened to again and again. All the songs are well produced, well recorded, and provocative. My favorite is the haunting "Inna I Malak" an Arabic song from the Byzantine period. I'm glad that someone is recording this music for the general public to listen to. Highly recommended!

I'm relatively new to Azam Ali. I first discovered her through Vas's recent album. Awhile ago I came across her debut solo album "Portals of Grace" at my local library and I immediately picked it out. I immediately fell in love with "Portals of Grace". The comparisons to Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance is obvious. Azam has a powerful voice that is quite similiar to Lisa's especially when she is simply expressing herself via vocalizations. The mix of mediavel and Portugese music is quite lovely. One of my favorite tracks on the album is "Breton Medley" which reminds me quite a bit of Loreena McKennitt minus Loreena McKennitt, with its Celtic melodies. I get the goosebumps when I listen to "O Felix". Azam really gets to showcase her voice on this particular track. Her voice takes front and center while the instruments remain in the background. The only minor flaw I could find with Azam Ali's music is the eerily similiarities to Lisa Gerrard. Azam might want to try to create a more distinct sound of her own but overall I love her music. I'll take Azam Ali than any of pop artist out there today.

Beautiful Midiaeval European/Middle Eastern Music and Voice.
If You like this CD I highly recommend "Kingdom of Heaven", which
is definitely as good and maybe slightly better.

Azam Ali has come along, presenting herself for those of us who longed for something of the same calliber and style as Dead Can Dance or Lisa Gerrard as a solo act. While recording with her bandmate Greg Ellis for Vas, her voice shined through with so much possibility but, alas, the music that backed her just lacked a certain something for me.

Enter "Portals of Grace", and we have found it. This album is a bit more straight forward than anything from Lisa Gerrard, to whom Ali is often compared, but it is stunnng none the less. The stark backdrops of sound that surround Azam Ali on this record support her perfectly. I have to say that the second track, "La Serena" has got to be one of the most beautiful recordings I have heard. The deep orchestral arrangements and rolling percussions that enter the track as Ali begins her wail of despair.... Breathtaking.

Azam Ali is an Iranian born singer and musician who grew up in India and later immigrated to the United States. World music fans know her as the Yin half of the band Vas, which Azam Ali founded with another talented musician - Greg Ellis.

"Portals of Grace" is the solo debut of Azam Ali, although Greg Ellis was heavily involved in the making of this album and is responsible for many musical arrangement featured on "Portals of Grace." On this album Azam Ali reinterprets medieval European melodies, giving them a strong Middle Eastern flavor of her own heritage, and creating surprisingly balanced compositions of exceptional beauty. Azam Ali's super natural voice, a magnificent instrument in its own right, is accompanied by mostly Middle Eastern musical instruments, such as duduk, riq, dumbek, oud, daf and tombac. The material used by Azam Ali ranges from Sephardic songs, to Provençal trobairitz poems, to Swedish and Breton melodies. The final result of this seemingly unnatural combination of Middle Eastern sound and Medieval European compositions is a mystical journey through a medieval make-believe land located somewhere along the borders of Persia, Byzantium, Moorish Spain, and Catholic France. You will not find this place on a map or a history textbook, but this place exists, even if it exists solely in the songs of Azam Ali.

http://musicmaxim.blogspot.com/

Green Memories is a hauntingly beautiful music CD inspired by the poetry of Forough Farrokhzad, one of Iran's most notable contemporary poets, well known for her philosophical views of modern social and political issues. Featuring the dulcet vocals of Azam Ali, who sings beautifully in words that do not belong to any natural language, as well as the emotional violin of Keyavash Nourai, Green Memories blends both through the processing of the computer music instrument dubbed "Lila" by recording artist Shahrokh Yadegari. The result is a transcendent experience that calls for renewed awareness that humankind is not utterly divided from its environment, but is so deeply interconnected that treating all life and objects with respect is, ultimately, the same as showing respect to one's ancestors, comrades, and generations to come. A poignantly mellifluous album, highly recommended. The tracks are Vidya (9:30), Mithra (7:57), Maya (6:45), Samsara (6:17), Nirvana (5:17), Homa (6:43), and Mantra (5:33).

This is not an Azam Ali album.

That being said-

I will admit, I first discovered Shahrokh Yadegari a few days ago after doing a search for Azam Ali. Seeing that the album was in "pre-order" I bought/downloaded "Migration" to get a feel for what the music was all about.

What you have here is a violin virtuoso making amazing experimental/ambient music. If you have heard of the likes of Dead Voices on Air or have enjoyed the minimalist soundtrack on movies like, say, Decasia, then you will LOVE this album. If you enjoy subtle music for listening or background you will like this album.

If you are looking at this because you are an Azam Ali fan please understand - this is not VAS, Niyaz, and as far from her solo work as you could get. She is a performer here - and you get her amazing voice in a context you have never herd before. Her voice is part of the composition - in a way, like Lisa Gerrard was with Dead Can Dance.

Either way - I really like this album and hope this helps.

Roseland is a strangely obscure collaboration between film score composer Tyler Bates (300, Doomsday) and Azam Ali from bands Niyaz and Vas. Both artists' historical output is amazing. However, this album is quite a departure for both of them, though no less competent.

Roseland reminds me a bit of trip hop, think Portishead or Massive Attack, injected with a healthy dose of Siouxie and the Banshees style gothic rock. It is a largely electronic recording with scattered riffy guitar work. There is a solid groove with a strong down beat, making this music a seductive dance floor choice. Each track is memorable, without annoying pop hooks, and work together to make a good, complete album.

Azam Ali's vocal work is simply divine. Her range, and vocal depth are staggering. Her work here is commanding, intense, passionate and utterly beautiful. Even though Ali's vocal work is quite potent, it is noteworthy that in no way does it overwhelm the overall mix or composition. This is a normal point of contention I have when a band showcases such a prominent vocalist. This is not just a showcase for how wonderful a vocalist she is. This is definitely an even collaboration between these two competent artists.

Roseland is not quite trip hop, but it is difficult to classify and I suspect anyone into bands like Massive Attack will enjoy this album. I would also recommend this to fans of darkwave/ethereal acts like Dead Can Dance or The Creatures.

This is a wonderful album, and all the more remarkable if you know Azam Ali's other work (Vas, Niyaz, her own solo albums). An acclaimed world music singer, she shifts gears in a big way in this collaboration with Tyler Bates, the soundtrack composer of the movies 300 and various horror flicks. Azam morphs her usually pure and spiritual sounding voice to a style that is both edgy and very sexy. Combined with Bates' at times very heavy rock guitar and atmospheric sound textures, the end result often raises goosebumps and is never dull. What is a mystery to me is why, only a few months after being released, this CD is nowhere to be found; I was only able to get the album by downloading the tracks from an indie music site. This is well worth searching for, and hopefully it will be back in print.

Now that's something I would never expect!I'm a big fun of Azam Ali (particularly Portals of Grace), but even though I love her ethereal type of music, I was sceptic when I heard that she goes rock for this project! I have to admit that her singing in english was strange to get used to in the begining but once you isolate it from her previous work and face it as a work apart, selfstanding...this is a jewel! Comparisons with other artists are useless, this is a unique work! Try it and you will not regret it!

This SA-CD of KODO is nothing short of amazing. Especially, tracks 7 and 10. If you enjoy percussion instruments and want to experience a totally enveloping encounter, this is the SA-CD to own. It's great to show others exactly what multi-channel SA-CD and DVD-Audio can deliver. The detail of simple wind chimes, finger cymbals rise above the pulsating beat, clear and precise.
Highly recommended . . . . 5 Stars!!!

This is an amazing disc! Sound quality is on par with the very best. Played back thru a true reference audio system, this disc will make your feet start moving. Also an acid test for a top notch audio system. I own a high end audio store and this disc has sold several PMC speaker systems for us...the same ones used to master the disc. Highly recommended!

George is right on the mark with his review! I only have a 20 SACD collection so far, but this particular disc is the best sounding of them all. Spatial information is incredible, clarity and presense are both amazing. The bass isn't saturated, it's fast, clear and subtle yet has immense power. The actual music is indeed a beautiful blend of Asian and African. Both the stereo and surround mixes are extremely well done. Highly recommended.

This is what SACD is all about. By far the best sounding SACD in my 50 disc collection. Incredible dynamics and resolution. Also a very interesting blend of Asian and African Rhythm. A MUST for all SACD owners!