AYMAN, HISHAM, MARS LASAR
A Whisper Across The Sand
(p) (c) 1999 Earthtone Records
13tks/66mins

Light and elegant, melodical and emotional - all these epithets can be completely attributed to the music of A Whisper Across The Sand.

I was waiting very much for the release of this album and I need to say, that I was worrying a little. It often happens that, when several musicians are gathered, every one of which is a famous artist and is interesting as a person, the result of their mutual creative work could be not so impressive. Still, luckily my fears were not realized. In the mutual project of Ayman, Hisham and Mars Lasar the individuality of every musician is felt good, and with this, it is something new - the original synthesis of creative work of three remarkable artists.

When I was listening to the album, I have completely felt what "visual music" is. I saw a large-scale view of endless sands from horizon to horizon, and there stood I a deux with the Infinity, rounded by all the winds of this world...

Still, of course, one can feel all these things, because A Whisper Across The Sand was created by real Masters. Sounding of the album is rich, polifonical and with that it is very delicate and intelligent. Rich sound palette is here first of all means of expression of musicians ideas (and rather successful one!). And also I would like to mention that this is very strong music, which uplifts the spirit. By the way, there is not many Oriental tones in the sounding of A Whisper Across The Sand. By the music it is more European. Middle East tunes one can clearly feel only in the fourth composition, Night Traveler.

The music of A Whisper Across The Sand contains one very interesting quality. When one listens to the album for the first time, he can mark: "Yes, this is beautiful". But there is nothing special here. Still, when you listen to the album for the second and third times, the strange thing happens: you are beginning to feel that the music becomes more and more harmonical, it fills the space around you. And the images created by the music are fascinating and calling you somewhere into the far-away lands... And one can be in this space, created by the three musicians-friends, as long as possible.

The first mutual project by Ayman, Hisham and Mars Lasar is very successful. I'd love to hear its continuation!

Serge  Kozlovsky