Sen 2007 by Sevara Nazarkhan - Real World Records

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

Sevgi Olam

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
 a departure into another realm entirely for Sevara.

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 (Bakhtimdan and Debochadan). 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.

(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.

An Uzbek traditional favorite is reworked here
(Kugai ) but Sevara and company manage
to keep all tracks sounding fresh and vibrant. 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
many references to "my soul" ( 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" a particular love interest.  More likely it is the
"You" who hears us all when our hearts speak most truly.