Album of the week – World Music by Joseph Tawadros with James Tawadros

‘World Music’ by Joseph Tawadros is Eastside Radio’s album of the week.

An album that pushes the boundaries and includes an endless amount of different instruments is Joseph Tawadros thirteenth album ‘World Music’ and what a fitting title he has given his latest album as it is exactly world music. Incorporating instruments from the Middle East, Portegues instruments, Irish instruments and Tibetan instruments the list goes on, all in all there is over sixty instruments played by Tawadros and his brother James Tawadros in this magical, very talented piece of work.

With Tawadros’ family background being from Egypt one of his first instruments and his main beloved instrument to play is the oud, a talent he is renowned around the world for playing and fore epanding the Oud’s notoriety in mainstream western culture, with is unique talent and technique it has won him several awards for example his three previous album before ‘World Music’ won Best World Music Album at the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards in 2012, 2013 and 2014. So it is a given that fans and listeners will be eagerly awaiting to see what Tawadros has come up with in this latest record.

As we hear from over sixty different instruments throughout the album it is no surprise that the album comes with quite a large amount of tracks, there is a total of 29 tracks, some are as short as one minute long but then there is one at eight minutes long, the imagination and talent this man has is pretty rare. We are taken on a journey around the world as we get to hear sounds from the mandolin, the celtic harp, the ukulele and much more. Tawadros is quoted saying ‘This album is totally different to anything I’ve done before. As well as the oud, I’m playing a range of other wonderful instruments. Music is a part of my being – I live and breath it – and this record is my attempt to transfer that energy and life into these other instruments as well as my beloved oud.”

One of the first tracks off the album is titled ‘The Adventure’ and that is certainly what it is as he ventures from acoustic sounds with some nice plucks of the strings, we get to hear some percussion as well to make for a nice uplifting lively way to start the album. You can hear the Middle Eastern sounds echoing through but it certainly isn’t defined to one region of music style.

For two brothers playing sixty three instruments on one disc it was much more of a project for the Tawadros’ rather than your typical album, it must have been a very enjoyable/learning experience for them having to use their extensive creativeness and talents, especially when Joseph is so used to playing the Oud as his main instrument having the opportunity to speak through an array of sounds must have been something very special and rewarding.

With some tracks being uplifting and giving us a sense of different cultures a short piece on the album that would put chills down your spine is hard to define to one area, however it is stand out material that would work on any blockbuster movie as the opening theme, it is the thrilling ‘Snow Fall’ make sure to have a listen to this as the piano tones are chillingly intriguing.

A real vibrant track on the latest album by the multi instrumentalist wizard is ‘The Festival Dragon’ as the name hints it gives us slight oriental sounds, a track that could be played in various settings as it is a lovely relaxing piece.

Joseph Tawadros is quoted saying, “Each piece is a soundtrack to a time and place, where ancient and modern worlds create a musical tapestry”. Well Tawadros was not misleading us with that quote as that is exactly what he has done, in another track named ‘Irish Delhi’ it is a very unique and enjoyable sound to hear as Joseph has mixed Indian instruments and Irish instruments together to create a magical piece of music, both countries musical cultures are quite similar for their love of percussion and stringed instruments, we hear from the Irish tin whistle and the accordion in this track to make for an uplifting jig with happy Indian tones.

If you are a fan of world music, or if you happen to be going on a journey yourself this is the type of record that will bring you to places by only shutting your eyes. The talent that is brought through on this record with over sixty instruments is second to none, the Tawadros brothers knew exactly what way they wanted to shape each track and knew the excitement it would give to the listener. For a long trip or a relaxing day around the house this is a record that will feel just right, you may hear of sounds you have never heard before.