Search - Natacha Atlas :: Ana Hina

Black is the Colour of My True Love's Hair

Zekeriyah | Chicago, IL | 07/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Natacha Atlas is nothing short of amazing. Aside from possessing a phenomenal voice, she is one of those artists who constantly can re-invent themselves with each new release, freely blending Arabic, western and even eastern influences together to create something new. And she does so once again on 'Ana Hina,' her most recent release.



Actually, it might be more accurate to say that this album is a return to her roots, as it were, as her gentle, melodic voice takes center stage here, accompanied by a lush, rich orchestra that would have been well suited to the great legends of classical Arabic music. Appropriately enough, Natacha Atlas uses this as a chance to cover songs made famous by her heroes like Abdel Halim Hafez and the legendary Fairuz of Lebanon. She also does a stunning rendition of 'Lammebada,' a classical Andalusian mwashah that dates back to Moorish Spain, and an original piece called 'El Noum' which was inspired by the work of Zad Moultaka.



But true to her eclectic and ever nomadic style, Natacha Atlas' influences range well beyond the Arabic-speaking world. She also performs everything from an original Frida Kahlo song ('La Vida Callada') to the Appalachian ballad 'Black is the Colour.' The latter song is especially well-suited for Natacha Atlas' voice and melissmatic style of singing, allowing her to showcase her talents in a language western audiences might be more familiar with. There is a re-interpretation of 'Hayati Inta,' from her recent 'Mish Maoul' album, and another original composition titled 'He Hesitated,' a song about a soldier deciding whether or not to shoot. It is especially poignant in light of the unfortunate recent US-led invasion of Iraq, and Israel's attacks on Lebanon.



Over all, this is yet another excellent release from Natacha Atlas. Those of you fortunate enough to have seen her in concert recently (as I was) will no doubt recognize some of the songs she sings here. And if you haven't, then I really suggest picking up this CD. It's really a return to Cairo's 'golden age' of Arabic music. Even if you've never heard Natacha Atlas before, if you love the music of Abdel Halim Hafez, Oum Kalthoum, Fairuz, Farid al-Atrache, Muhammad Abdel Wahhab and the like, then you will fall in love with Natacha Atlas' unique style of music. And also check out her recent 'Mish Maoul' album and the 'Best of Collection.'"

Simply Elegant, Hauntingly Beautiful

Book Lover | United States of America | 11/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Atlas' most intimate album yet, _Ana Hina_ is showing itself to be her simplest and most elegant album to date. Shedding herself of her Transglobal Underground and Jah Wobble roots, she focuses more on the raw emotion of the music she sings, relying more heavily on her vocals and acoustics than on the complex musical tapestries that made her previous songs so great. Atlas just keeps showing us what makes her a great artist with each album she produces.



A few highlights to name are the English "Black is the Colour," a romantically intimate Scottish-style ballad that rightfully tops any English song Atlas has produced by far, and the Spanish "La Vida Callada," a hauntingly beautiful duet with Clara Sanabras, each voice creatively and carefully layering one over the other only to produce a most vibrantly colored piece of art that gratifies the ear as much as an oil painting pleases the eye, leaving us wanting more.



The Arabic highlights are "Lammebada" by which Natacha Atlas walks us down the ancient Silk Road, and the ever-haunting "El Nowm" produces a chill down the spine as Atlas showcases her low-range voice against the background of a traditional Arabic ensemble in a melancholic musical arrangement that seems to be awakening the ancient spirits from Giza to the Tigris River. "He Hesitated" is another haunting piece that refers to the Iraq War and provides a nice hybrid of Middle-Eastern and modern Celtic.



The jazzy, French café-style "El Asil" once again shows us the playful side of Natacha, while still remaining mature and elegant. All the other Arabic tracks take us back to the days of Fairuz and Hafez, while "Hayati Inta Reprise," a revised version of the track from her previous album _Mish Maoul_ does not seem to fit the theme of _Ana Hina_; but it is a nice rendition of the song nonetheless.



There is no pop hit here; there isn't even a single song that truly stands out more than the others. They each remain raw, old-word, and true to her roots and talent. It is subtle, but this subtlety is what makes the album so great. For the loyal Atlas fan, this will not* be a hit-and-miss album. At first, one might miss the "old" Natacha that we've come to love, but rest assured, the album will grow on you practically overnight. For those of us Natacha loyalists out there, _Ana Hina_ makes us fall in love with her all over again; but for those who are new to this great singer, _Ana Hina_ is sure to show you why Natacha stands out as one of the greatest musical talents the world has ever seen.



Also check out her other great albums Mish Maoul, Ayeshteni, Halim, Gedida, and Diaspora.

"

Other Worlds of Music

Brenda K. Christianson | 03/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While driving one day and listening to NPR radio, an interview with Natacha Atlas caught my attention. I was at my destination,but remained in the car to continue listening to her music/interview. I immediately researched this artist and ordered two CD's! Her voice and the use of various ethnic instruments moves the listener toward the music of the spheres."