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Raguy Danziger : Dust
-acoustic and electronic arrangements of middle eastern songs- (US/IS,2002)*°°
At first I thought there were two kinds of approaches and styles on this album, one with a more middle eastern rock approach, the other more based upon compositions with middle eastern percussion. But in reality the style changes give a good variation. Neither density or simplicity take over, so the ideas merge well, making the album an enjoyable listen.
All tracks are in fact performed and arranged by a duo, with Raguy, playing all kinds of middle eastern percussion and string instruments, and Liron Pered, an Israeli drummer who played in a hard rock trio before. With Raguy he also plays electric bass, moog, electric guitar. Their cooperation works fine and creates for the ethno rock tracks a more "powerful" sound. On "Raquin" his contribution with an additional moog works on a fast middle eastern tune. My favourite heavy track is "Kurdish" with a powerful middle eastern ethno hard rock approach. Never the less the more quiet percussive duets are welcome changes. On two tracks Raguy has done some vocalisations, at "Tanan" they sound like Meredith Monk like voice improvisations on a Persian rhythm, and on "Riq duet" it is based upon Indian rhythmic vocalisations.
PS. The hard rock trio from Liron Pered was called Emok, who subsequently opened for Prodigy in Israel. Also participated was on the track "Dust" was Haig Manoukian, virtuose oud player.
