“Filamentary Dreams Of The Cedars” is the superb instrumental world fusion debut from the Mokyo Octet. Now a four-piece, all of the instrumentations and compositions on this particular album can be attributed to composer/oudist/guitarist Paul N. Dorosh. With “Filamentary Dreams Of The Cedars,” Dorosh has crafted seven excellent and uniquely organic tracks that combine traditional Middle Eastern oud, which is a variation on a lute, with modern guitars and electronica beats. The resulting sound varies from track to track, some sounding like jazz fusion and others merely juxtaposing the traditional Middle Eastern sound with modern electronica. It all sounds excellent, and the recording quality really captures Dorosh’s careful musical layering. “Running, Sightless” is aptly titled since it features frantic and excellent oud work and displays Dorosh’s talent both as a composer and an oudist. “Crustacean” closes out the album nicely with a great jazz fusion track with acoustic guitar and Dorosh’s oud work resembling that of a jazz bass line. “Filamentary Dreams Of The Cedars” is an exceptional debut from Mokyo Quartet that leaves you eager to hear what the now-expanded group will put out next. Fans of Middle Eastern music and world fusion should certainly look into this album.

“Filamentary Dreams Of The Cedars” is the superb instrumental world fusion debut from the Mokyo Octet. Now a four-piece, all of the instrumentations and compositions on this particular album can be attributed to composer/oudist/guitarist Paul N. Dorosh. With “Filamentary Dreams Of The Cedars,” Dorosh has crafted seven excellent and uniquely organic tracks that combine traditional Middle Eastern oud, which is a variation on a lute, with modern guitars and electronica beats. The resulting sound varies from track to track, some sounding like jazz fusion and others merely juxtaposing the traditional Middle Eastern sound with modern electronica. It all sounds excellent, and the recording quality really captures Dorosh’s careful musical layering. “Running, Sightless” is aptly titled since it features frantic and excellent oud work and displays Dorosh’s talent both as a composer and an oudist. “Crustacean” closes out the album nicely with a great jazz fusion track with acoustic guitar and Dorosh’s oud work resembling that of a jazz bass line. “Filamentary Dreams Of The Cedars” is an exceptional debut from Mokyo Quartet that leaves you eager to hear what the now-expanded group will put out next. Fans of Middle Eastern music and world fusion should certainly look into this album.

This impressive debut CD straddles the genres of modern jazz, electronica, and Far Eastern ethnic music. Despite the unlikely instrumentation (including the so-called Iraqi lute paired with electronics), Paul's music is very tightly conceived – the seven pieces on this CD all have an organic flow that can only come from an earnest and successful attempt to mesh ancient sounds with today’s music technology. The listener is drawn in with soulful beats and avante garde riffs that are skillfully interwoven with electronics. I particularly enjoyed the way the CD’s intensity ebbed and flowed, moving through several distinct phases - meshing cultures and instruments with an eloquent reverence.