Sevgiolam - Love of the Universe

http://www.realworldrecords.com/


The Uzbek people have a word for "love of the universe":

Sevgiolam.

First of all I must admit I was prepared to love this music.

The tracks are emblazoned upon my psyche through so

much repetition (and pure love of her voice) and I can

honestly say I adore this work beyond even my own

expectations. To my mind Sevara and her production

team have established a new reference point for

transcendence through music. I  believe this CD

Her music - her way - is synergistic and sublime.

This is music beyond the need for coherent language

structure or even attempt to follow the

spoken and whispered Uzbek vocal. The near-hypnotic

quality of her voice has the potential to speak to all

people. Sevara is not merely a singer of exotic

language with a pleasing voice. She is

a vocal - powerhouse. 

Hers is a voice like a beacon, navigating us

through difficult times, communicating seemingly

effortlessly across borders and cultures - she

shares with the listener a rich and insistent chorus

of her love of music - one might guess:

her sevgiolam.

There is a considerable amount of multi-tracking

and electronica layered into this work. Sevara penned

the music on all but two of the tracks. She and her team's

tender care about these songs is evident, as several

seem to have evolved, becoming almost a sentient touch.

Overall the work feels like a warm embrace (or a shout

to the universe), at its essence personifying a vital spark

of humanity for which many have striven but few achieved.

The various song structures blend wonderfully in a

furthering of progressive stylings. Ancient-sounding

traditional harmonies give way to Sevara's enlightened

improvisation.

While all experiments on the mix of this album may not

have come off as seamless as one might wish - Sevara

has arrived - of that there is little doubt.

Lest the reader think this reviewer's inherent bias has

caused a review  too given to hyperbole, decide for yourself

Only listen with more than your ears open. Open your mind

and your heart, and by all means, read the words

translated into English (they used to be found on the label's

web site but it has undergone a renovation of late). It's a little

easier to get into the mood and appreciate the sheer joy instilled

by embracing this marvelous work, though a lot is lost

in translation.

http://www.google.com/notebook/public/01729610678493639598/BDQKlIgoQuOimxK8j?hl=enProducers

(England's)  Bruno Ellingham and (Russia's) Viktor Sologub

for Peter Gabriel's Real World Records have worked some

technical magic here to be sure. But all give more than ample

credit to Sevara's voice, verve and dynamism.

This is Sevara's soul on display...it is what she is. And like

the soul it is beautiful.

You won't find much in the way of technical gaffs on this

work. It is most lovingly produced. The potential exists

for this exchange to open the listener's eyes to not only

what is possible, but what this in turn makes possible

through music.

She brings a little of Uzbekistan's rich culture to the world

with a fresh voice and modern style. So it is to be expected

she is not without detractors in her own land - though I

suspect they are becoming fewer over time. It strikes me

they would most likely come in the form of traditionalists

aggravated over what she has done to the (very)

long-standing Uzbek sound.

Sevara's voice, multi-layered and sensous,  is sometimes

reminicsent of ancestral chants and when she hits the

high notes, as in the title track Sen, it sounds and feels

just like heaven.

A couple of Uzbek traditional songs are reworked here

(Kugai and Kuyoshga) but Sevara and company manage

to keep all tracks sounding fresh and alive. Sevara

Nazarkhan has never sounded  better and that's not

saying a little. Her transition from Uzbek pop star to

top World Music artist is magnificently complete. I applaud

her for remaining true to that which drives her creative energies.

Not only her amazing voice and evolved spirit,  but the

integrity and frank boldness to present her art to the world

from within the framework of her native Uzbek - inherently a

truly musical language (as a quick survey of the blossoming

Uzbek pop music industry can exemplify) in which there are

constant references to "my soul" (or jonim).

So listen and listen again. You may just be pulled into this

ancient soul and start to be more appreciative of Sevgiolam.

Enough listens and one begins to see though altered eyes

and hear through altered ears.

Her adoring "Sen" (translated as "you") - is not "you"

the listener nor "you" some love interest.  More likely it is the

"You" who hears us all when our hearts speak most truly.


The CD's track # 3 studio performance can be viewed at
the link below:

by Sevara Nazarkhan and Okhundjon Kahkimov 

You are the one who fills my soul with gladness

If you want you can make me fly like the wind

If you want you can make me laugh

Or fill my heart in a flash


If you want you can lift my head to the skies

If you want you can leave me at the crossroads

For a second my will is in your hands

You are the one who can give or take away joy

You, you, only you