The Slip Up

Irish-Cretan slip-jig. Fusion of Irish and Cretan styles, Irish slip jig form played on saz (stringed instrument like an oud or mandolin), Cretan lyra and bendir percussion lending an Eastern Mediterranean and modal Arabic sound to the uptempo dance tune. Mysterious, tense and energetic; a curious, lively dance of different cultures with a singular, hypnotic sound.

      The_Slip_Up-JPM_version

Zomorud

Instrumental fusion of Greek, Turkish and Irish folk musics. Unpredictable time signatures, non-Western scales and rolling melodic phrases played on Cretan lyra and Middle Eastern saz, joined by violin and subtle percussion. Murky and intricate, growing in speed and intensity throughout. Sombre yet determined, delivered with passionate vehemence, perfect music for a global documentary or Film/TV scene representing Turkish or Middle Eastern culture.

      Zomorud-JPM

Cumbus Long Neck

Improvisation on Turkish cumbus, stringed, oud-like instrument. Free-form improviation with runs, ornamentation, repetition and silent pauses, growing slightly faster and more intricate towards the end. Mysterious, intimate and sparse, Turkish and Middle Eastern sounds perfect for a documentary about the region or to accompany a vast, deserted landscape onscreen.

      Cumbus_Long_Neck-JPM

Bombay

Meditative oud instrumental with male vocals. Upbeat, melodic oud, resembling sitar, repeating melodic ideas with sparse hand drums and intermittent guttural vocals on top, reminiscent of North Indian Classical Music. Plodding yet rhythmic and driving with an improvisatory feel, perfect for a Film/TV scene set in a vast, unfolding Middle Eastern landscape.

      Bombay-JPM_version

Baglama Taksim

Saz or baglama instrumental. Mid-tempo Arabic saz solo, a stringed instrument like a lute or guitar, resembling the Arabic oud, sounding like English folk or American country at times, with a strong Middle Eastern sound. Determined and energetic yet thoughtful and reflective, would suit documentary or TV/Film centered around the Middle East, matching the lively pace of life.

      Baglama_Taksim-JPM_version

Sahara (Oud version)

Arabic oud track. Fragmented melodic phrases on oud, accompanied by a tension-building drone. Subtle percussive hits add further anticipation. Suspenseful, atmospheric and mysterious, the perfect soundtrack to a Spaghetti Western set in the Middle East.

No percussion version available.

      Sahara_Oud-JPM_version
      Sahara_Oud_No_Perc-JPM_version

Endless Sands

Oud instrumental with strings drones. Oud improvisational melody with a string drone building atmosphere and tension. Intermittent percussive snare rumbles punctuate the drone. Rhythmic percussion introduced and some vocals and a short expressive but subtle ney interlude. Anticipatory, mysterious and exciting, perfect evocative Arabic instrumental to soundtrack documentaries or travel shows.

Alt versions have a more free and meandering feel.

      Endless_Sands-JPM_version
      Endless_Sands_No_Percussion-JPM_version
      Endless_Sands_No_Percussion_Sparse-JPM_version

Loutar

Improvisation on loutar, an oud-like stringed instrument. Sparse improvised phrases growing to more melodic parts. Hypnotic, melancholy and raw, like the soundtrack to a western movie at first before taking on a North African feel when the melodic sections kick in. Perfect documentary soundtrack.

      Loutar-JPM_version

Cura Saz

Turkish saz instrumental. Improvisatory solo on Turkish saz, resembling the Arabic oud, as well as lute or guitar. Improvisations end on repeated refrains. Melancholy and meditative, bringing to mind desert plains and traditional ways of life, imagine a Spaghetti Western set in Turkey. Perfect folk music for an Arabic or Turkish documentary.

      Cura_Saz-JPM_version

Oud Taksim

Improvisatory oud track. Meandering oud solo, measured and spacious, with pauses full of resonance and contemplation. Expressive, contemplative and meditative, perfect music to accompany a middle Eastern landscape on screen, vast, beautiful and unpredictable.

      Oud_Taksim-JPM_version