Ana Hina - Natacha Atlas

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Product Details

Artist : Natacha Atlas & the Mazeeka Ensemble
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0794881886722
Label : World Village
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2008-05-26
UPC : 794881886722

ASIN : B00166BL6O

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Quite apart from her own prodigious talent, Natacha Atlas has always been extremely shrewd in her choice of musical partners. Jah Wobble, Nitin Sawhney and Transglobal Underground are but some of them and, on her latest recording, she adds the maverick arranger Harvey Brough to the list. At first listening, Ana Hina seems to represent an abrupt left turn, as there is not a loping drum-loop to be heard and droning synthesizers are replaced by a tastefully arranged string quartet. And, while half of the tracks are Arab classics, many of the arrangements owe more to tango than raqs sharki. Not that any of this should surprise us, for Atlas has always been an unashamed magpie when looking for inspiration. The influence of Lebanese superstar Fairuz is never far away and three of the songs are by her mentors and composers, the Rahbani Brothers. However, where their orchestrations can drown you in syrupy sweetness, these renditions have a steely restraint. There have been moments in Atlas' recent albums when she has edged towards the maudlin but here we find a deeper wisdom and even joie-de-vivre in its place. She clearly enjoyed working with a new team of musicians, and most notable amongst these is the singer and guitarist, Clara Sanabras. A darling of the early music fraternity, her contributions are utterly enchanting and the duet on La Vida Callenda is pure delight. Just as Natacha Atlas' future looked a little uncertain, she presents us with something alluring, intriguing and extremely witty. (5 stars) --Bill Badley, Songlines

Review

Natacha Atlas, whose ecstatic vocals graced many a global groove from the likes of Transglobal Underground and Jah Wobble, has found an inspired new setting for her Middle Eastern heritage. Western strings, Spanish oud and Egyptian accordion contribute to a rich acoustic context for both Arabic songs and original compositions. Natacha's voice was always an instrument to admire; here, beautifully recorded, it finds a new range of expression, curling sensuously around Arabic lyrics from Lebanese diva Fairuz, and Egyptian icon Abdel Halim Hafez, and lending an oriental touch to Black Is the Colour . Add in some big-band Arabic swing and an almost operatic duet with Spanish singer Clara Sanabras, and you have both a promising new direction and a career highlight for Ms Atlas. --NIGEL WOOD, The Irish Times, 13 June 2008

Customer Reviews

On top of the world (2008-07-22)

Although a very singular work, "Ana Hina" calls to mind a number of unique (and very different) albums including Bim Sherman's re-recording of a number of his old songs in the acoustic reggae-meets- Bollywood "Miracle" album, Joanna Newsom's "Ys" in which the baroque ornateness of Van Dyke Parkes met Steve Albini's minimalism with wonderful results and, thirdly, the Greek singer Savina Yannatou's Primevera en Salonico disc "Sumiglia" which showcases songs from Greece, Corsica, Italy, Sicily, Galicia, Palestine, Albania, Bulgaria, Armenia, Moldavia and the Ukraine. Like Yannatou, Atlas celebrates the differences between various musical traditions while highlighting their commonality. "Ana Hina" is, however, also very different from these recordings as Atlas and Ensemble re-record some of her old songs, showcase new ones and interpret traditionals and cover principally Lebanese and Egyptian famous songs. This diverse selection is embellished with varied instrumentation which is full of colour and texture while Atlas's voice is at her most emotive and, even in the saddest numbers, there is a greater warmth than on any previous Atlas recording. Although the highlights are too many to name, from the opening Lebanese song "Ya Laure Habouki" (Oh, Laure my love to you), the standout for me is the only song in English, the traditional "Black is the Colour", variously claimed as Irish, Scottish and Appalachian, which shames a host of mawkish versions by "authentic" Celtic artists. It is a slowburner par excellence, full of dignity, restraint and pure emotion. Elsewhere "Hayati Inta (Reprise)" is a fantastic reworking of a track which appears on Atlas's "Mishmaoul" album reinvented as (to quote the informative liner notes) "The Doors meets Mingus meets Miss Atlas" as a wickedly noir-esque bass collides with energetic accordion.I would like to think that this album would appeal to anyone with a genuine and open-minded interest in music. It is has a richness and maturity in which playfulness and vitality are not sacrificed, a rare combination in world, jazz, fusion, pop, traditional and every other form or genre of music. This deserves to be a huge hit with critics and the music-buying public alike.

Voyage into a land of dreams (2008-07-07)

I do not speak Arabic, Perhaps I should. Because I do think that in today's multicultural world one should make an effort to familiarize oneself with the cultural accomplishments of our fellow citizens in the global village. That is why I appreciate Ms Atlas; she's an intriguing figure : a child of our time and space,a Eurab one could say, unashamedly picking from the various musical heritages she's been exposed too. Strangely she is now being accused of not being "spirited" enough. As far as I'm concerned this is a lovely piece of work. Spirit of adventure, poetry and a dreamlike other worldliness is what this CD is about. Yes, this is a more classical musician type project, but what is wrong with that?.From the very first notes from Harvey Brough's piano and the Mazeeka string section in Ya Laure Hobouki you are waltzed away in a wonderland of warmth and lusciousness. The tango flavoured Beny Ou Benak Eih follows and one can imagine oneself in the Cairo of King Farouk. A breathy version of Black is the Colour inspired by Nina Simone is another highlight. To be honest, there is just not a bad track on this CD.Throughout the liner notes reference is made to the Lebanese singer Fairuz. I do not know her work. Perhaps I should acquaint myself with it!I'm going to play this a lot more over the next weeks. Moreover, I hope Natacha Atlas will continue on this path.Five stars, definitely!

unspirited (2008-06-30)

Yes, the review published above (from Songlines) is right enough: the arrangements here are restrained and 'tasteful'. And also her singing...but too much so, for my taste. It's all rather genteel and delicately done: the result is so low-key that it becomes inanimate and unspirited. At her best, Atlas has been a terrific lead for the transglobal projects, but the material on this CD is pretty ordinary stuff and the delivery lacks spark.

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