Album: Various Artists, The Rough Guide to Sufi Music (Second Edition) (World Music Network)

Reviewed by Michael Church

Sunday 31 July 2011

This fascinating CD takes the listener to the mystical, liberal side of Islam, where the puritanical and negative effects of orthodoxy do not hold.

A Turkish ney-flute solo kicks things off, followed by the Al-Kindi ensemble from Syria; we progress via Tamil Nadu to Senegal, and thence to Pakistan. The late great qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan delivers his crazy flights, but my favourite tracks are by Punjabi gypsy singer Reshma, and Cheb I Sabbah from Afghanistan.

Suggested Topics
Voices
Lot 2, Abstraction of cauldron design, by Heatherwick Studio, one of 50 drawings

Get your hands on an original Chapman Brothers artwork

elephant appealThe first 23 lots in our charity auction have now gone. But there are 22 more still up for grabs
Sport
Swann celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australian batsman David Warner

England on top in Ashes Test at last!

sportGraeme Swann takes two wickets to make it 220-5 at teatime
News
Megyn Kelly said it's a 'fact' that both Jesus and Santa Claus are white

It's a 'fact' that Jesus and Santa Claus are white, says this Fox presenter

people
Arts & Entertainment
Jack Whitehall and Gemma Chan attend the British Comedy Awards

Whitehall crowned king of British Comedy Awards

comedy'Fresh Meat' star sees off stiff competition from Alan Carr, David Mitchell, Graham Norton, Lee Mack and Sarah Millican to win top prize
VIDEO
Arts & Entertainment
As usual, The Beatles 'did it first' with their gig on the roof of Apple HQ on January 30, 1969. Nobody on the ground could see anything and the sound was reportedly a disaster, but this was big, super-cool news at the time.

All You Need Is.... a limited release

music

Beatles rush out 'bootleg' album to defy EU copyright law
Life & Style
James Bond's excessive drinking put him at 'high risk' of a series of alcohol-related diseases, according to experts

Licence to swill

healthJames Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, tremors... and impotence
Arts & Entertainment
Kanye West found himself at the centre of a critical storm over the weekend after he apparently claimed to be “the next Mandela” during a radio interview

Kanye West is as 'misguided as they come'

musicPolice chief rejects rappers' claims that his work is as dangerous as law enforcement or military service
Arts & Entertainment
Matt Smith stars in 'American Psycho' at the Almeida

Matt Smith regenerates as ripped uber-narcissist in American Psycho

theatre
Arts & Entertainment
Adam Handling, Scott Davies and Steven Edwards will compete in tonight's final of Masterchef: The Professionals

MasterChef: The Professionals - who has been crowned winner?

tvSpoiler alert: Find out the result of a heated final show
Voices

Pretty ornaments, despicable slaughter: The ugly truth behind ivory

elephant appeal
Arts & Entertainment

Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act? Step up George Clooney

film

Harvey Weinstein reveals his secret weapon on-set
Life & Style

Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

life

Now that an oil trader's drinking has got him sacked, will we all have to make do with an afternoon latte?
Arts & Entertainment
Chiwetel Ejiofor (left) and Idris Elba have been nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes

Black British actors lead Globes nominees

film

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris Elba get nods for Best Actor, which no black Brit has ever won
Arts & Entertainment
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in a scene from 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'

'An old-fashioned romp, pure cinematic escapism'

film

Geoffrey Macnab reviews The Desolation of Smaug - the meat in Peter Jackson's Hobbit sandwich
News
PMQs: David Cameron

It’s not rocket science

peopleWhat advice would David Cameron give to his younger self?
News
A CGI image of Pinnacle tower at 200 Bishopsgate

London to reach Pinnacle as 'impossible' skyscraper plans get green light

news
Arts & Ents blogs

The Children’s Book Blog Christmas Countdown: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Children’s Book Blog Christmas Countdown: Christmas Stories by Michael Morpurgo

Review: Last Tango in Halifax – Series 2, Episode 4

Independent
Travel Shop
Bruges by Eurostar
Three nights from £259pp Find out more
Classical Spain
Six nights from £599pp Find out more
South Africa
 15 nights from £1,999pp Find out more
Elephant Appeal donate now >

independent images

SPONSORED FEATURES

Five things to do for a fiver in London this December

This Christmas, you can park in one of NCP’s ten most popular London car parks for just £5 for six hours of parking at selected times during weekdays and the weekend.

Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

NCP Parking Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

NCP Parking Prizes & offers

ES Rentals

    Independent Dating
    and  

    By clicking 'Search' you
    are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

    The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

    John Carlin, author of ‘Invictus’, reflects on a momentous week that has shown South Africa at its best - but also, all too often, at its worst
    It’s not rocket science

    It’s not rocket science

    What advice would David Cameron give to his younger self?
    Licence to swill: James Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, liver disease, tremors... and impotence

    Licence to swill

    James Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, liver disease, tremors... and impotence
    All You Need Is.... a limited release

    Delight for collectors as Beatles release new album to defy EU copyright law

    The album features 59 previously unissued recordings including outakes
    'An old-fashioned romp, pure cinematic escapism'

    Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

    For all its use of 3D and digital technology, this is an old-fashioned romp at heart – a piece of pure cinematic escapism
    Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act? Step up George Clooney

    Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act?

    Step up George Clooney
    Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

    Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

    To his cost, ex-Glencore trader Andrew Kearns has found being hungover a sackable offence, but the liquid lunch shaped many a day in days gone by
    Black British actors lead Globes nominees

    Golden Globes 2014

    Black British actors Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead nominations
    Chris Froome: 'You have to go beyond rationality'

    Chris Froome: 'You have to go beyond rationality'

    The rider on how he broke through the pain barrier this year to claim Tour de France victory and how it's changed his life – and ruined his shopping trips
    Rafa Benitez: Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to win their group – why no one told Manuel Pellegrini just doesn’t add up

    Rafa Benitez column

    Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to win their group – why no one told Manuel Pellegrini just doesn’t add up
    The death of Nelson Mandela: A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

    A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

    They came and waited patiently in their thousands for a momentary glimpse of their hero, Nelson Mandela
    We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we fetishise motherhood

    Grace Dent

    We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we also fetishise motherhood
    Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

    Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

    The Supreme Court judgment  has profound consequences, meaning it could gain charitable status – and opens the floodgates to claims by other organisations
    Your Money, Money, Money please - Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website

    Your Money, Money, Money please

    Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website
    Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

    Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

    The two thirty minute films have not been seen for 50 years