Shahen-Shah

Released on Peter Gabriel's Real World label, 'Shahen-Shah' was a pivotal introduction of traditional Qawwali to Western audiences, presented without alteration for the market. The album captures the devotional music of the Sufis, building from droning harmonium and intricate tabla rhythms to soaring vocal crescendos led by Khan's commanding voice. The production distinctly captures the raw, live energy of Khan and his party, highlighting the ecstatic spiritual intensity and complex, improvisational vocal interplay that define the genre.