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Om Kalsoum - Laylat Hob

Souma Records

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Big smile on our faces for having this record in stock here for you -
Om Kalsoum (also spelled in ways such as Oum Kalthoum / Umm Kulthumm etc, FYI) is the true queen of Egypt, and basically, from what we have seen & heard, all arabic speaking countries from North Africa to Middle East and beyond....
We've heard her music blasting many, many car radios and tape players from Palestine to Tunisia, even now, half a decade since her glory days, in which she spellbound anyone who had ears and would be in the vicinity of her voice, wether at one of her infamous live show epics, full of charm and character, orchestral finesse, and not least - an incredible, one-of-kind vocal range and emotionally powerful tone.

Honestly, if you don't know about this lady, and haven't taken the time to enjoy one of her songs yet then you really need to take some time with her music.
It's a majestic sound - (I mean, she used to sing for the royal family in Egypt, but her music was everyone's favourite, no matter who) - her voice can make people cry and laugh, probably simultaneously - it's that powerful.

Her songs usually clock in at around 20ish mins, so please don't judge by listening to a clip - from the epic intros before she appears on the mic, to the heart-wrenching solos and sequences of her songs - it's really something special... Orchestral music about love and heartache, the arabic way, with the crowd going mad in the background, loosing themselves, shouting and cheering - making european crowds for classical type music seem even more stiff and un-moved.

Anyway, we're by no means an authority on her music, we just know that it's special because it makes us feel a way that no other music has done, ever.

Read on below:

Laylet Hob - Another meeting in the clouds

Mohamed Abdel Wahab wrote another big score for Om Kalsoum in 1972. In “Laylet Hob” (A Night of Love) we hear Arabic music and poetry in perfect symbiosis. The rich and lengthy instrumental intro is just a precursor of the emotion present in this song. The talent of the composer is underlined by how he utilises the traditional style of singing poetry in a more open and creative way. Abdel Wahab’s infusing of long and groovy interludes with varied tonality, rhythmical patterns and an overall unique approach, carries Om Kalsoum’s powerful voice and brings the song to an incredible climax. In this way, he gives more colour and depth to the music and the skilled soloists in the orchestra are finally able to breathe. Sensual rhythms, breaks and breathtaking solos of accordeon, guitar (Omar Khorshid), violin and organ (Hany Mehanna), have ensured this song is an all-time classic for belly dance routines.
Souma Records thought it was time to re-release this monument on a high quality vinyl format.


A Laylat Hob = ليلة حب (Part - 1)
B Laylat Hob = ليلة حب (Part - 2)



Side A clip



Side B clip