Nagham Fi Hayati

Description

Wewantsounds presents Nagham Fi Hayati, the classic by Farid el Atrache, released in 1974 on the Voice of Lebanon label and the soundtrack of the eponymous film. Sampled by the Beatles and nicknamed "the King of Oud," El Atrache is one of the major artists of Egyptian music alongside Oum Kalthoum and Abdel Halim Hafez. One of Brian Eno's favorite albums, this record is being reissued for the first time since the 70s and also includes the complete version of "Takassim Oud," showcasing his superb oud playing. Born in Syria in 1916, Farid El Atrache moved to Egypt with his family at an early age. Influenced by his mother, who sang and played the oud, he learned both disciplines and quickly gained recognition. He began his professional career at the Egyptian National Radio in the 1930s and soon became one of the most prominent singers in Cairo as well as a promising actor in the flourishing Egyptian film industry. One of his songs recorded in the 60s, "Awel Hamsa," was even sampled by the Beatles in the track "Revolution 9." Nagham Fi Hayati ("Melody in My Life") was released in 1974, the year of his death. It is also the music for the film by the famous Egyptian director Henry Barakat featuring Mervat Amin. The album consists of four tracks. "Alachan Malich Gheirak" and "Ya Habaybi Ya Ghaybin" are long romantic pieces typical of El Atrache's style, alternating lush instrumental sections played by a full orchestra and sung parts. "Takassim Oud" is a stunning instrumental revealing his virtuosic oud playing. The song is presented here in its entirety for the first time. The highlight of the album is "Hebina Hebina," a classic of Arabic groove over the years with a funky loop and a groovy organ. Originally released on the Voice of Lebanon label, Nagham Fi Hayati was recorded by engineer Nabil Mumtaz in his Polysound studio in Beirut. Wewantsounds is pleased to reissue it for the first time in all its splendor, with audio remastered by Colorsound, the original cover, and a new introduction by Mario Choueiry from the Arab World Institute.