Mevlevi is an ancient Turkish musical tradition, dating back almost 800 years, in which repetitive rhythms and vocals are fundamental, with melody (often played on an Arabic flute called the ney) assisting them both.

These three elements work together to create a trance-like effect, which sends the consciousness of the whirling dancers into a deep meditative state.

Mevlana is a great collection of Mevlevi music, with Nizeh Uzel's graceful baritone and Suleyman Erguner's gentle ney melodies leading the Istanbul Sema Group Mevlevi Music Board Orchestra through 16 hypnotic tracks.

Though not as immediately ingratiating as other Middle Eastern music forms, upon deep listening the music takes the listener to strangely heightened sensations of ecstasy -- more like a dizzying merry-go-round than a thrill-a-minute roller coaster.