Hamza El Din’s seminal 1971 album draws on the languid, atmospheric Nubian music from the Upper Nile, but played within the structures of Arabian classical music. “The Water Wheel” is perhaps one of the best examples of his unique style, and follows the experiences of a young boy whose job it is to keep the water wheel (the large wooden wheels, turned by oxen, used for irrigation) going. Hamza El Din’s rhythmic oud perfectly recreates the repetitive movement of the water wheel, creating a timeless, hypnotic groove.

– Megan Iacobini de Fazio