This group of folk musicians from the Sind region of Pakistan recorded an album for Olympic in the 1950s (later issued on Tradition) that, while it was marketed as "snake charming" music, was actually a fine document of Sufi trance music that was among the earlier recordings of its type. "Yogi" means ascetic, and the ten pieces on the album, in the words of the original liner notes, made it so "these mystics expressed their thoughts and feelings in a musical form known as raag." Raags are based around "surs," which are basic notes ordered in a particular ascending and descending scale which the performers embellished and improvised upon. No details of the album's instrumentation were listed on the original release, unfortunately, but the musicians most likely employed percussion and a murli, a flute-like instrument that produces both melodies and drones. Despite the murky details surrounding the original recording, the upshot is that it's powerful Middle Eastern trance music, bound to appeal to those who admire more renowned performers such as the Master Musicians of Joujouka. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi
