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Various Artists: "Steam" Soundtrack (World Class - 1998) The tracks of the "Steam" Soundtrack are culled from the film Steam/Hammam: The Turkish Bath and are appropriately cinematic in scope and ethnically flavored in execution. While the film may be about gay love in a Turkish spa, the soundtrack is about creating a sensually exotic mood, which it does with aplomb. |
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11 of the 18 songs are less than two minutes long, but as a whole, add up to 46 minutes of, well... steamy... atmospheres. Created with a musical arsenal of ethnic instruments, many tracks are patterned after Sufi dervish trance ceremonies, as well as Turkish music from the early 1900s, and occasionally slightly modernized by contemporary electronics and beats. Aldo De Scalzi and Pivio (of Trancendental) are the main writers, although various artists and groups contributed.
Melancholy violin with light percussion sets the pace (and a recurring theme) in Hamam. A brief vocal/violin interlude, Ilk Uyku (0:29), spans to the next track. I would have loved to heard more of the rapid ethnic drumming and spirited strumming of Mahalle, an entrancingly thunderous din. Reedy fluting and moody synths are underscored by pattering percussion in the opening minutes of Gece Ziyareti; wails, drums and manly grunts punctuate the latter third with a sweaty sense of energy. Some chirpy (and, I'm sure, exotically named) instrument takes the lead in Iptal, relinquishing that honor to a female vocalist, whose styles range from smooth wails to a gutteral gasp. Piano, percussion and wind instruments blow a balmy breeze through Dunya, a World Music/New Age hybrid. A duet of sinuous flute and equally fluid female chantings form Gizil Zaman. A Mediterranean crooner is backed by synth, flute and trickling water in the oddly loungey Bu Askam Bütün Meyhanelerini Dolastim Istanbulun. Plucked strings are joined by lively percussive accompaniment in Ikinci Metkup, another delightfully drummy (though irksomely short) piece. Sultry Disiu is underpinned by a slightly menacing electric bassline and low-key modern percussion. The female vocals (while I can't understand a word) are beautiful, ranging and expressive. A more sorrowful reconstruction of the opening theme, Hamam (Bosphorous version) is a slow wash of keyboard and strings decorated with piano notes, like tiny droplets sparkling under a heavy gray sky. Jangling, metallic strings form another brief interlude, Omuzdaki El. Driving electric bass and a carnival atmosphere flow through Tavla, which is highlighted by vocal choruses from the Romanian female group, Secret. A familiar refrain gets a different treament in Hastane, a darker slice of introspection. Rapid fire drumbeats introduce Francesco Nun Sonu, yet another variation on the recurring thread. The song basically seems a collage of other tracks. Honking reeds are at the forefront of Sadaka, with drums and synth underneath. Yet another reworking, Istanbul Uyurken (Hamam) (6:36) begins softly, eventually building up steam via mechanistic beats, though still retaining a bittersweet mood. High tech electronics and pleasantly jammin' e-beats give a final twist in the modernized Istanbul Uyurken (Hamam Trance Version). The different takes on the main theme don't seem repetitous because they're interestingly transformed in each variation. |
| I confess... I don't know a qraqeb from a kawwal, but I gladly immerse myself in the atmospheric cultural intermingling offered by the "Steam" Soundtrack. More of a World Music outing than Ambient, but definitely evocative and transcendental. I'm ranking it at a clean 7.7. |  |