Jilala: Sufi Trance Music From Morocco

Jilala: Sufi Trance Music From Morocco

A good portion of the musical power derived from sacred music, be it gospel or Gregorian chant, comes not just from the composition or its aesthetic, but from the belief in the divine presence each genre strives to evoke. If you're standing on the other side of the faith, you might not be able to hear much of it. This alone may mar the still-potent spirit of Jil Jilala, a collection of early Sufi trance-music recordings undertaken by Swiss painter Brion Gysin and writer Paul Bowles during their celebrated expatriate stay in Morocco. The music is rhythmic and stark--a few drums, three flutes, a pair of castanets, and the voices of the followers are all you'll hear on these titleless tracks--and the sound quality renders an experience imperfectly dimmed by the years. Yet this vivid sonic portrait of the Sufi mystical sect of Jilala captures the musical essence of a culture jubilantly seizing the soul of their worship. As both a historical document and glimpse into the unknown, Jilala radiates with an undeniable enlightenment. --Justin Hampton
Country USA
Manufacturer Baraka Foundation
Binding Audio CD
ReleaseDate 1998-06-23
UPCs 644993000922
EANs 0644993000922