Irfan means “mystical knowledge.†Mystical is an apt description of the group’s sound. This Bulgarian band makes use of traditional Balkan instruments like the oud, saz, daf, tapan and ghaida (to name a few) to breathe new life into medieval music. Beautiful, haunting, spiritual and soothing, Irfan's music is an oasis of calm. Highly recommended for fans of Dead Can Dance, Vas, Niyaz, female vocals, and middle/far eastern music.
Product Description
Through exotic and strong male and female vocals, we are given a glimpse into traditional Bulgarian songs like “Elena,†Russian Orthodox pieces such as “Gospodi Pomilui†that date back to the 13th century, and “Santa Maria†which draws its lyrics from the Spanish piece “Cantigas de Santa Maria†from the 1200s. Even Irfan’s original compositions have an otherworldly quality to them, suggesting a time and place long forgotten, but thanks to their music, easily remembered.
Irfan,Irfan,Noir (Big Daddy),Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
Irfan
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Irfan
Irfan Manufacturer: Dancing Ferret ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
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Goth & Industrial
| Alternative Rock
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| Goth
| Industrial
General
| Rock
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Pop Rock
| Pop
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Similar Items:
ASIN: B0007LPRUA Release Date: 2007-07-16 |
Tracks:
- Monsalvato
- Salome
- Elena (Based On A Motive Of A Traditional Bulgarian Song)
- Return To Eden
- Otkrovenie
- Gospodi Pomilui (Anonymous Bulgarian 13th Century)
- Peregrinatio
- Outremer
- Santa Maria (Lyrics Taken From Cantigas De Santa Maria, 13th Century, Spain)
Album Description
Through exotic and strong male and female vocals, we are given a glimpse into traditional Bulgarian songs like “Elena,†Russian Orthodox pieces such as “Gospodi Pomilui†that date back to the 13th century, and “Santa Maria†which draws its lyrics from the Spanish piece “Cantigas de Santa Maria†from the 1200s. Even Irfan’s original compositions have an otherworldly quality to them, suggesting a time and place long forgotten, but thanks to their music, easily remembered.Customer Reviews:
Awesome Bulgarian Folk-Inspired Heavenly Voices Album.......2006-12-29
Founded in 2001, Irfan is a Bulgarian heavenly voices / neo-classical band that makes extensive use of a mix of male and female vocals in addition to a host of an assortment of traditional and modern non-electronic instruments including tapan, santoor, ghaida, kaval, duduk, and zurna. Though Irfan is (and justly so) compared to Dead Can Dance, Irfan stands on its own.
The songs are inspired by local Bulgarian and medieval European influences. As one reviewer accurately described: Bulgaria itself is at the cross roads of Europe and the Middle East, and this is really best described the band as well. Irfan prides itself on exploring its own local musical heritage. Many Irfan songs are choral in nature: featuring multiple ghostly male and female vocals. The focus on the band isn't on an individual or two people or even the lyrics of the vocals, but rather the entirety of the music created by the rather large ensemble of artists.
About the Album:
Irfan is the band's first (and at present only) release, though a few songs not included on the release are available on other compilation records. Approximately 50 minutes in length, divided into an 11-minute long opening track followed by 8 tracks that range between 2 and 7 minutes, the album can be easily used to spin for a radio show or at a dance club.
I bought the album months ago after multiple times of amazon recommending it to me, and it has been on my top playlist since. It is hard for me to really suggest that there are just a few stand out tracks, as I honestly enjoy listening to the album start to finish at home, at work, and during my commute between the two. I find the tribal beats and chants to be relaxing. That said, since amazon has provided samples for you to listen to, I'm going to recommend the samples that I feel best fit the album (sometimes amazon's samples cut off interesting parts of tracks).
Recommended Tracks:
- Otkrovenie (female fronted vox)
- Santa Maria (female fronted vox)
- Return to Eden (male and female vox)
Similar Artists:
- Impressions of Winter
- Das Zeichen
- Saraband
- Love Is Colder Than Death
- Moon Far Away
- Dead Can Dance
- Vas
In closing, if you find yourself always looking for bands similar to Dead Can Dance, please hunt down some of the bands I've listed above. Though the heavenly voices genre is not as prolific as many other forms of music, there really are a number of fantastic bands waiting to be (re)discovered! I'm eagerly awaiting their next release! Enjoy! :)
Balkan Inspired Medieval music at its Best!.......2006-06-02
Dead Can Dance always, to me, seemed to border on pop and adult contemporary. The influences which made DcD so popular I feel in some ways also diluted the ethnic and antique sound. This is not to say I dislike DcD. I do. Very much. But Irfan, to me, is a far more pure beast.
Rooted not only in an abstract interest in the historical, Irfan also draws heavily upon their own cultural roots to create a sonic tapestry that seems genuinely transportative. It is not only the arrangement and instrumentation of the songs - but the *quality* of the vocal style and native origin of the instruments. The training is quite obviously Eastern European (vs. an American or Anglo artist adopting the lyrics and style) and lends to the overall impression that you are listening to something quite old yet quite living.
I've followed medieval music heavily now for several years, and Irfan was a burst of light from the shadows - one of the most pleasant surprises of 2005. I wasn't expecting something *this* good when I was first granted the CD. But I now find myself listening to it quite frequently.
If you are interested in creeping, beautiful, dark and lush sounds of a land steeped in ancient tradition - pick up Irfan. If you are interested in something transportative and beautiful that will make you want to dream, and perhaps even dance - pick up Irfan.
Ifran's excellent debut.......2006-03-30
It's not fair to compare, but---.......2006-01-30
NOT even remotely on par with Dead Can Dance!.......2005-12-29
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Metro - One City, Countless Emotions
Shilpa Shetty , Irfan Khan , Konkona Sen Sharma , and Kay Kay Menon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000OMK50Y |
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My Infinite Nature Alone
Manufacturer: Hibernia Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Death Metal
| Hard Rock & Metal
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| Hard Rock & Metal
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ASIN: B000EVDX1S |
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Irfan (Le Heros)
Les Ogres De Barback Manufacturer: Leso ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000JAZ5 Release Date: 1999-04-26 |
Customer Reviews:
Great smooth rythm...Tu dois avoir........2007-01-02
A must have........2002-04-09
A must have........2002-04-09
A must have........2002-04-09
Further in happiness !.......2000-06-15
Rap Music:
- It's About Time [Import]
- Killer Lords [Original recording remastered] [Import]
- Ladie's Love Oracle [Bonus Track]
- Laughing Water [Live]
- Live at World Cafe [EP] [Live]
- Live [Live]
- Long Live the New Flesh [Extra tracks]
- Long Way from Home [Import]
- Majikat [Live]
- Manage the Damage
Recommended Music:
20th Century Religious Singing In Moscow
William Cornysh: Latin Church Music