Souad Massi - Raoui (The storyteller) '2001

Tracks list

Souad Massi is that rarest of Algerian performers -- she doesnt sing rai music.
But more than that, shes an accomplished singer/songwriter, a kind of North
African Tracy Chapman, although she works in the Maghrebi genre of shabi as much
as she does in folk music or soft rock. Electric guitars and touches of
flamenco, oud, and the Arabic bass gimbri all help bring a real distinctiveness
to her sound, which certainly has more in common with many American 60s protest
singers than her contemporaries in Africa (indeed, to some shes Joan Baez
reborn). Cokes production (he has worked with Ben Harper) is very sympathetic,
bringing a live feel to the record (Matebkiche is, in fact, completely live).
Bladi is a perfectly catchy song, its oud line deftly leading into Massis smoky
voice, and Nekreh El Kelb has a vital urgency. But it does fall apart somewhat
in the later tracks, which come across as rather MOR and make her sound a little
like Natalie Merchant -- which doesnt place her in the best context. Not a
perfect debut, then, but theres plenty of promise for the future, as long as she
really remembers her roots and doesnt wander the empty halls of rock.

Tracklist:
01. Souad Massi - Raoui (The storyteller) (3:49)
02. Souad Massi - Bladi (My country) (3:41)
03. Souad Massi - Amessa (A day will come) (3:48)
04. Souad Massi - Tant pis pour moi (Too bad for me) (3:08)
05. Souad Massi - Noir et blanc (Black and white - duet with Ismael Lo) (4:27)
06. Souad Massi - Hayati (My life) (4:10)
07. Souad Massi - Nekreh el keld (I hate this heart that loves you still) (4:35)
08. Souad Massi - Denya (The earth) (3:23)
09. Souad Massi - Khsara Aalik (Its a pity) (4:46)
10. Souad Massi - Rani Rayha (Im leaving) (4:49)
11. Souad Massi - Jai pas de temps (I dont have the time) (4:06)
12. Souad Massi - Awham (Illusions) (4:25)
13. Souad Massi - Lamen (Trust) (4:52)
14. Souad Massi - Enta Dari (You know) (3:46)
15. Souad Massi - Matebkiche (Dont cry) (3:28)
16. Souad Massi - Paris (duet with Marc Lavoine) (5:01)

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