V.A. - The Rough Guide to Bellydance (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Western image of bellydancing is associated with Greek or Middle Eastern restaurants, or some form of low-cost home seduction. The truth, of course, is something different. It's an ancient form of dance, requiring extremely complex body control to execute properly -- and it's original name, baladi, has nothing to do with the belly, translating instead as "country dance." But whichever way you look at it, the music on this compilation is made for the dance, whether it's the satisfying full Egyptian strings of Jalilah and Mokhtar Al Said's "Enta Omri," a piece originally written for the great Oum Kolthoum, or the stunning buzuq work of the late Mohamed Matar, whose nimble, inventive playing deserves greater exposure. The centerpiece, however, belongs to Nubian percussionist Mahmoud Fadl, with "Aament Bellah," a piece written to illustrate the power of the dance to lighten spirits and the oppressive weight over everyday life. At 12 minutes, it demands a lot from the listener, but amply repays it with shards of musical genius from the ensemble, and a rhythm that can't be denied. The music ranges from the classical compositions of Mohammed Abdel Wahab to folk pieces, presented in a manner that largely runs the gamut of Middle Eastern music. And if you get tired of using it for dancing, it makes excellent listening too. by Chris Nickson  
Tracklist:
1 Jalilah Feat. Ihsan Almounzer– Tahia's Dance 4:36
featuring – Ihsan Almounzer
2 Reda Darwish– Marhaba 1:39
3 Ahmad Fouad Hasan– Dimashq 3:04
4 Mahmoud Fadl–    Aament Bellah 12:00
5 Jalilah feat. Mokhtar Al Saïd– Enta Omri 5:27
featuring – Mokhtar Al Saïd
6 Setrak Sarkissian– Ala Jsrel Low Ziyyi 5:35
7 Mohamed Matar– Adawar 4:35
8 Omar Faruk Tekbilek– Laz 3:54
9 Kemanî Cemal Çinarli– Kirkpinar Çiftetellisi 6:19
10 Jalilah Feat. Mokhtar Al Saïd– Rakiya's Tabla 1:50
featuring – Mokhtar Al Saïd
11 Mahmoud Fadl– Ana Wehabibi 5:04
12 Armando El Mafufo– Arruga La Camisa 3:27
13 Ahmed Mneimneh– Aini Bet Ref 4:02
14 Rabih Abou-Khalil– The Happy Sheik 6:00
15 Reda Darwish– Raqset El Banat 3:11

V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Turkey (2003) Mp3

There's been very little exploration of Turkish music in the West, and on the basis of this you have to hope there'll be a lot more in the future. This disc covers the waterfront, from the pop sounds of Sezen Aksu and Ebru Gündes to the tortuous (yet playful) time signatures of Laco Tayfa & Hüsnü Senlendirici and the brooding sound of the Barbaros Erköse Ensemble, with Erköse, one of the country's leading musicians and a stunning clarinetist, at the helm. It's a carefully sequenced disc, moving slowly from straightforward Turkish pop -- which is no copy of Western sounds -- through gypsy music to Sufi sounds. The pivotal point is the very political Grup Yorum, whose "Haydi Kolkola" is ready accessible, but has a distinct roots edge. And from there, it moves to a rawer sound, such as Kemani Cemal Cinarli's "Mavisim," with its remarkable solos on hammered dulcimer and violin. Truth to tell, there's not a bad track on here, and compiler Dan Rosenberg has done an excellent job of illustrating how the different styles of music in Turkey have influenced and bled into each other, and the way both the Middle East and Europe have shaped it. A fascinating journey through an underexposed culture. by Chris Nickson
Tracklist:
1 –Sezen Aksu : Güngörmemişler 3:45
2 –Ebru Gündeş : Sen Allahin Bir Lũtfusun 4:27
3 –Sibel Can : Padişah    3:49
4 –Ümit Sayın : Ben Tabii Ki 4:07
5 –Levent Yüksel : Sultanim 5:15
6 –Ajda Pekkan : Dile Kolay 4:58
7 –Grup Yorum : Haydi Kolkola 4:15
8 –Laço Tayfa & Hüsnü Şenlendirici : Çiftetelli    5:25
9 –Omar Faruk Tekbilek : Hijaz Raks    4:58
10 –Belkis Akkale : Bendeki Yaralar 4:05
11 –Birol Topaloğlu : Arsima Şeni (Arsima Için) 4:50
12 –Barbaros Erkose Ensemble : Yalvariş 4:53
13 –Kemanî Cemal Çinarlı : Mavişim 5:22
14 –The Kudsi Erguner Ensemble : Seddiaraban Peshrev 4:45
15 –Mevlânâ Kültür Ve Sanat Vakfý Sanatçýlarý : Kemençe Taksimi / Segâh Niyzs İlahisi 5:33