Natacha Atlas: The Best of Natacha Atlas (Mantra)

 |   |  <1 min read

Natacha Atlas: The Best of Natacha Atlas (Mantra)

Atlas -- born in Belgium but with family links to Egyptian, Palestinian and Moroccan cultures -- is one the most thrilling contemporary voices of the Middle East crescent. She came to attention in the early 90s with Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart then the dance-electronica outfit TransGlobal Underground out of London.

Her solo career began with the Diaspora album in 95 and since then she has pursued her own path between traditional-sounding songs and dubby electronica with a hip-hop attitude. This 16 track collection draws from her solo albums to convincing trip-hop and often erotic effect.

Atlas brings in rappers (on the danceable Eye of the Duck) but is equally at home with a Egyptian string section (the mesmerising Ezzay). There are a couple of remixes here (she previously released a whole album of remixes) and it matters little whether she sings in French (Mon Amie La Rose), Arabic or English, her voice is a rare treasure. Terrific, except for the unnecessary version of You Only Live Twice.

And if you like the taste of this territory you should check out Malouma, The Rough Guide to North African Cafe, the Marabi Africa compilations and the other artists and compilations from the region which Elsewhere has posted.

Mesmerising. 


Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

Goran Bregovic: Champagne for Gypsies (Cartel!)

Goran Bregovic: Champagne for Gypsies (Cartel!)

If everything on this album were as flat-tack as the boisterous opener with guests the Gypsy Kings, then you'd be breathless well before the midpoint. And, just a guess here, when Bregovic and His... > Read more

Womad Artist 2014: James Lindsay of Braebach

Womad Artist 2014: James Lindsay of Braebach

Double bassist James Lindsay of Scotland's Breabach says what they will be delivering at the forthcoming Womad in Taranaki is quite simple: “Expect a varied and exciting showcase of... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

THE BARGAIN BUY: Jeff Buckley; Mystery White Boy (Sony)

THE BARGAIN BUY: Jeff Buckley; Mystery White Boy (Sony)

Jeff Buckley -- who died in '97 -- didn't have much time to make an impression, but the scant recorded evidence in his lifetime was enormously impressive. And of course posthumous releases like the... > Read more

Bob Dylan: TV Talkin' Song (1990)

Bob Dylan: TV Talkin' Song (1990)

You can -- and people do -- fill page after page banging on about the genius of Bob Dylan. But the man has also been responsible for some real stinkers, especially in the Eighties. Perhaps his... > Read more