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Review by Bill Binkelman I'm rather late coming to the Na-Koja-Abad's party (a.k.a. Muamer Music), a young Bosnian who crafts amazing ethno-tribal ambient music that rivals the best from the acknowledged masters, e.g. Steve Roach, Tuu, vidnaObmana, Amir Baghiri, et al. He is one of the "new breed" of stars in this resurrected subgenre, joining Jeff Kowal (a.k.a Terra Ambient) Michael Mage, Max Corbacho and others who are just now coming into their own. Fleeting Glimpses is a stunning recording, infused with such primal energy and mystical power that it's almost exhausting listening to it all the way through in one sitting. I haven't played this CD in a pitch black room yet and I may never do so for fear of losing myself in its whirlpool of sensual tribal rhythms and smoldering dense swirls of ambient darkness. Wielding a combination of synths, processors and sequencers, as well as all manner of ethnic percussion and drums (e.g. frame drum, darbukas, djembe, rattles, rainstick, shakers, etc.) Na-Koja-Abad takes the listener on a journey way upriver, into the deep darkness at its headwaters under a canopy of trees that stretches to the heavens, obscuring all but a trace of daylight. While the ambient drifting passages are excellent at creating a moody and spacious atmosphere, it's when this artist plunges into his percussion and drumming that Fleeting Glimpses pulls you in, e.g. the slowly evolving drums at the start of "Within the Waking Dream" which beat out a steady rhythm amidst the swirling synthesizers and steady ebbing/flowing drones which course underneath them. It's not difficult to visualize sitting by a campfire and observing a ritual dance by tribal members, as they circle the flames in a spiritual quest for enlightenment from their gods or ancestors. The later integration of synthesized exotic bird calls (via outer-spacy synthesizers) increases the illusion that you have been transported to another place and another time entirely. "Fleeting Glimpses" starts out with what sounds like rattling clay wind-chimes and a mournful horn-like sound but morphs into deep drones buried underneath pulsing "Mines of Moria" drums that grow ever more intense and insistent. "Liquid Silhouettes" opens with frame drums and a scratchy percussive effect taking center stage while the background contains hushed deep vocal-like synths. As elsewhere on the CD, things start to heat up, as both the drones and electronic textures, as well as the rhythms, escalate in volume and energy. As I mentioned above, if you immerse yourself in this recording, you're gonna get a workout, unless you can listen to music this passionate yet remain dispassionate while doing so (and if you can, what's the point then?). Two things stand out in the final analysis of Fleeting Glimpses. One is that Muamer Music is an amazing percussionist. Taking nothing away from the other artists mentioned above earlier in this review, if this man's drumming skills don't blow you away, as they did me, I don't know what it takes to impress you. His work on frame drum, in particular, has to be heard to be believed! The second thing is the seamless blending of both percussive power and ambient sensuality in this recording. I only wish I had given this recording enough playings before I had put together my list of top recordings of 2004, because surely this would have placed on it. My apologies go to this highly talented artist who deserves accolades aplenty for crafting such an exceptional album. Fleeting Glimpses is one of the best ethno-tribal/dark ambient recordings since the start of the millenium and fans of that genre would be doing themselves a huge disservice to not give it serious consideration. Highly recommended! |
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