Neo-pharaonic library funk kaleidoscopic belly dance & intercontinental 70's airline arrangements. Those vaguely familiar with Egypt and its tumultuous yet triumphant modern history can probably associate it with two things: an incredibly rich musical heritage, and a penchant for revolt. In many ways, Egypt experienced a sonic revolution in the 1970s against a backdrop of President Sadat’s Infitah (his “opening-up” of the economy and embrace of Neoliberalism). The passing of Egypt’s Golden Age musicians such as Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez, the emerging cultural rifts in an increasingly individualistic society, and the landing of the cassette format in Cairene homes were some of the catalysts for this observed modernism. Enter Hany Mehanna. Mehanna is a virtuoso keyboardist, composer, arranger and pioneer of the oriental synth who was by no means a stranger to those very same Golden Age musicians. He began as an accordion, organ and synth wizard in the illustrious orchestras backing the supreme Umm Kulthum, divas Warda and Fayza Ahmed, as well as the inimitable Abdel Halim Hafez, as part of the legendary troupe known as Al Firqa Al Masiya. Along with the visionary yet blind Ammar Al-Sheriyi, Mehanna was instrumental in the development of the oriental keyboard by experimenting with oscillators to play quarter tones – this paved the way for keyboards earning a permanent role in modern Egyptian music. He later experienced a creative outburst as a composer and arranger allowing him to craft his own iconic sound that playfully teetered between deeply charismatic Arabic maqams and avantgarde electronic hypnotism – an imprint partly tracing its roots to his Sufi father who evoked a transcendental musical consciousness in him from an early age.
- A1 Hanady
- A2 Haya Ha'ira
- A3 Al Qina' Al Za'ef
- A4 Reem
- A5 Ta'er Al Layl
- B1 Rehala
- B2 Walad Wa Bint
- B3 Ayni Betrif
- B4 Less Al Thulatha
- C1 Rehla
- C2 Shahr Al Assal
- C3 Sympathique
- C4 Baya
- D1 Ayam Al Marah
- D2 Al Nil
- D3 Daa Al Omr Ya Walady
- D4 Al Dawama (Opening Theme)
- D5 Damat Alam
- D6 Al Dawama (End Theme)
