Nima Collective: Songs Of Strange Delight

Blending world music with jazz and progressive rock, Nima Collective bring together ideas, styles and instruments which wouldn't normally be found together, with didgeridoo, taar, santour and kamanche sitting comfortably alongside drums, violin, saxophone and the "stick" of band leader Nima Rezai.

It is Nima's precision stick work that leads much of what is on offer during this excellent voyage through eclectic, meandering moods and vibes called Songs Of Strange Delight. However the ethnic instrumentation is never swamped, or for that matter, added for effect, with the beautifully poised opening track "Division" setting the scene perfectly for the rest of the album. Didgeridoo heralds the song into life, before violin and hand percussion take on the mantle of moving forward the plaintive, but captivating story that the instrumental music relays. The intricate orchestration which becomes the signature of this album is always busy, while never being too clever for its own good and it is easy to imagine devotees of world music fully appreciating this aspect of the album, while the more adventurous jazz fan, or progressive music follower will be startled by the skill, dexterity and insight shown in this music.

Wonderful moments like the pulsating "Fragile", or the singing, electro-beat driven "Take Me Down" are compelling both in their ability to intertwine styles and moods, and the ease in which they draw you in to their complex, yet accessible themes. The trick isn't quite so successful on the version of The Beatles "Norwegian Wood", which ever so slightly tumbles into twee territory, although the version of the Hendrix classics "Little Wing/Machine Gun" is one of the most moving pieces on the whole album. That said the thumping beat and singing mixture of stick, saxophone and xylophone of "In Time" is simply stunning, being not only the outstanding highlight of this album, but one of the most beautiful, moving pieces of music your liable to be lucky enough to encounter.

For anyone looking to broaden their horizons into world music, then Songs Of Strange Delight comes highly recommended and for sheer beauty, clarity and eclecticism this is an album of rare class and poise.

Track Listing
1. Division
2. Norwegian Wood
3. Three Steps
4. Fragile
5. Float
6. Persia
7. Memory On
8. In Time
9. Little Wing/Machine Gun
10. Take Me Down

Added: September 12th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Nima Collective
Hits: 2028
Language: english

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