 | Arabesque by Various Artists
Buy used from: $21.67 This compilation is at the top of my list; virtually every song is wonderful and it really sets the theme for traditional-modern fusions.
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 | Dark Light in the Wake of Silence by Knossos
Buy new: $21.49 / Used from: $7.93 This CD features the beautiful sounds of the oud, a Middle Eastern string instrument comparable to the lute, paired with some great rhythms. You can learn more at www.ambientoud.com
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 | Niyaz by Niyaz
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $5.90 A gorgeous CD with lyrics based in the poetry of the Sufi mystic Rumi. This CD is Persian rather than Arabic-based, but it lends itself quite well to bellydance. You may recognize the lead singer Azam Ali from Vas or her solo projects.
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 | Tribal Derivations by Beats Antique
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $20.83 One of my new favorites. It features not only Middle Eastern influenced pieces but also ones that include Western brass instruments and banjos.
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 | Putumayo Presents: North African Groove by Various Artists
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.64 Putumayo releases wonderful collections of music based on geographical regions, this is one of my favorites.
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 | Putumayo Presents: Sahara Lounge by Various Artists
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $6.94 Another wonderful Putumayo collection emphasizing down-tempo pieces.
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 | The Middle East Side by Djinn
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $13.99 I had the honor of seeing this group perform live at Spring Caravan 2008 and I promptly bought their CD. Middle Eastern percussion and strings meets hurdy gurdy, electronica, and the sounds of a human beatbox - how can you go wrong?
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 | Electric Oasis: Exotic Arabian Grooves by Various Artists
Buy used from: $11.04 This compilation CD features some remixes of classic Oriental instrumental pieces. The songs are fast-paced and club-worthy.
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 | A Tribal Metamorphosis by Pentaphobe
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $8.99 Industrial noise meets bellydance. Tribal fusion dancer Rachel Brice has used Pentaphobe's music in many of her performances.
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 | Sawdust by Pentaphobe
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $7.64 This album still features the edgy, industrial vibe of his previous album but also incorporates a vintage circus feel too.
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 | The Seven Valleys by Stellamara
Buy used from: $26.32 Middle Eastern meets Eastern European on this CD. Beautiful, warbling, ethereal vocals and lots of traditional instrumentation drive this album. I really enjoyed "Szerelem," "Baracka," and "Resulina."
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 | Essential Lounge: Bombay by Various Artists
Buy new: $21.98 / Used from: $7.94 Although this 2 CD set claims to have an Indian theme, there is a lot of Middle Eastern influence here. A number of songs feature Natacha Atlas who often sings in Arabic. The songs in this compilation are mostly chill-out and down-tempo.
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 | Vadalna: Solace Remixed
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $5.95 This is a collection of eight songs by Solace, remixed by various artists ,including Solace themselves. The tracks "Cybele (Neo-Tribal Mix)" and "Nataraja (Basaal Mix)" have been used by different dancers on performance DVDs.
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 | Heaven's Dust by Ekova
Buy used from: $1.98 A really unique mix of cultures and sounds come together in Ekova including Middle Eastern and even a slightly Celtic flavor. Most lyrics are in Dierdre's own cryptic, self-created language. This album also contains a traditional oud taxim.
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 | Bellydance Superstars, Vol. 3 by Various Artists
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $7.98 There are numerous volumes in the BDSS music collection, this is the one which I feel has the greatest number of pieces which fit with the theme of this list, for example "Tribal Dream," "Ancient Ruins," "Harem," "I Cash Radii."
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 | Serpent's Garden: Hypnotic Sounds From Mosavo by Mosavo
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $12.36 A very meditative CD with slower-paced music. It would be great background music for warm-ups and stretching in a class format.
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 | Chill Sessions: Chill in Arabia by Various Artists
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $3.00 Although the Middle Eastern influence isn't as strong as I would like, this is still a very good trip hop CD. I recommend "Sinsym Flight" and "O Ledianoi."
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 | Hadra by Lumin
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $2.49 Along similar lines as Stellamara (I believe both groups share some band members).
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 | Arabian Travels: A Six Degrees Collection by Various Artists
Buy new: $8.98 / Used from: $3.31 Another set of fast-paced, dance club style pieces. It features a few remixes of more traditional music along with remixes of songs from more contemporary artists, including Ekova.
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 | Arabic Groove by Various Artists
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $4.87 Yet another great Putumayo release. This one features a lot of upbeat, Arabic pop music.
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 | Arabic Journeys by Various Artists
Buy used from: $5.93 A 2 CD set featuring some Middle Eastern samples and oftentimes dreamy electronica. Although the pieces in this collection are probably not dynamic enough for performance, it would make a great warm-up, drilling, or cool-down soundtrack.
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 | Frequency by Naked Rhythm
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $8.73 Add Middle Eastern, Indian, techno, and even some hip hop for good measure and that sums up some of the influences for this CD.
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 | Bellydance Overdrive by Turbo Tabla
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $4.95 As the name "Turbo Tabla" indicates, this is a very beat-driven album.
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 | Galactic Caravan: Intergalactic Bellydance by Various Artists
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $6.00 Upbeat, techno-style pieces.
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