Search - Hossam Ramzy :: Secrets of the Eye

Fusion of modern and Egyptian/Arabic, works!

happydogpotatohead | New Orleans, LA USA | 03/25/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have to approach this from a musical standpoint, since I'm a musician and not a belly dancer. (And a good thing too, who wants to see a 40 year old bald guy belly dance?)Musically, what we have here is a fusion between Arabic music and more modern sounds. Ramzy uses traditional instruments along with the occasional synth and drum machine. At first I was bothered by the occasional intrusion of the synthesizer and the drum machines, but then as the music progressed I forgot they were there. Ramzy wants to introduce the modern elements, but he's pretty firm on keeping the Arabic element upfront. For the most part, this works, and it's quite possible to get caught up in it. He is a fantastic drummer, and all the musicians on here are more than competent.I have to admit this doesn't attain quite the high level of spirituality and sensuality that more traditional Arabic music does, at least not for me, although "Aazab" comes very close. However, I'm not sure that's what Ramzy was aiming for. It seems that he's trying to bring Arabic music to a wider audience, as well as providing killer soundtracks for bellydancers everywhere, and in that he succeeded.I personally wish the production was a bit less...perfect, I suppose, and that the musicians had gotten a little more carried away and a little less careful. There is a wildness that's essential to a lot of Arabic music that appeals deeply to me, and Ramzy only occasionally hits that wildness here.But it's quite possible I'm expecting too much from this CD. It's also true, in spite of all I have said, that I listen to it and I like it, and find something to dig every time. So perhaps it would be best to ignore my reservations and listen to it for yourself. After all, whose opinion are you gonna take; mine, or the 40,000 or so gorgeous bellydancers who love Ramzy's music? I thought so. Me too."