**** The Musicians of the Nile

CHARCOAL GYPSIES

(Real World)

The opening strains sound almost like Scottish bagpipe music. But once that keening, guttural vocal cuts in and a warbly flute and slapped hand-percussion start swirling up seductive rhythms, there's no mistaking the ambiance of the Egyptian desert. This pristine recording from Egypt's best known folkloric group comes as balm to all who love the moods and tonalities of Egyptian folk music but want to hear it without the tacky keyboards and drum machines that seem to have taken over in Cairo.

These tracks are spare and irresistible, from the nimble flute and drum interplay of "Eb'at Djawaben" to the eerie melodies of the album's one instrumental track, "Sand." The solo singing is especially affecting, its raw emotion sweet and smooth enough to charm even those who find Arabic vocals too shrill or abrasive. On the tracks where percussion, vocals, and wind instruments all come together, it's a party around a raging fire on a cool desert night. This is as good a recording of North African roots music as I've heard.

-- Banning Eyre