The swirl of Egyptian strings, hip-hop beats, love, and politics can make strange bedfellows, but once again Natasha Atlas, chanteuse and belly dancer, makes sense of it all. Singing in several languages (including French ... more »on the opener "Mon Amie la Rose") she delivers 11 exotic worldbeat tracks full of exuberance, reflection, and yearning that are at once compassionate and militant, her Arabic roots sharing center stage with her club experiences with the likes of Transglobal Underground. Funky beats, kanoun, oud, string sections, and percussion jostle for attention in the background as Atlas's serpentine vocals entwine the listener in tales of passion, injustice, and the mysteries of life. Recorded both in London and Cairo, Gedida is a truly cosmopolitan melting pot for the '90s, ranging from hip dance-floor grooves to traditional Egyptian orchestral arrangements, and Atlas, equally at home in both, is fast proving herself one of the most intriguing and original artists blending international cultures into a common musical language. --Derek Rath« less
The swirl of Egyptian strings, hip-hop beats, love, and politics can make strange bedfellows, but once again Natasha Atlas, chanteuse and belly dancer, makes sense of it all. Singing in several languages (including French on the opener "Mon Amie la Rose") she delivers 11 exotic worldbeat tracks full of exuberance, reflection, and yearning that are at once compassionate and militant, her Arabic roots sharing center stage with her club experiences with the likes of Transglobal Underground. Funky beats, kanoun, oud, string sections, and percussion jostle for attention in the background as Atlas's serpentine vocals entwine the listener in tales of passion, injustice, and the mysteries of life. Recorded both in London and Cairo, Gedida is a truly cosmopolitan melting pot for the '90s, ranging from hip dance-floor grooves to traditional Egyptian orchestral arrangements, and Atlas, equally at home in both, is fast proving herself one of the most intriguing and original artists blending international cultures into a common musical language. --Derek Rath
"I've become totally disenchanted with American Pop over the last few years and World Beat is, for the most part, a marketing trap. It's easy to feel like you've got no choice but to drown in a sea of Oldies, if you follow me.But, every once in a while, a real gem floats before your eyes. GEDIDA is an incredible album, full of legitimate musical inventiveness unknown on U.S. radio for decades. The fact that a tune as great as "Aqaba" can't make a dent on even the so-called "independent" or "alternative" charts is further evidence that the American Pop scene is deader than dead. Blaming it on a language difference doesn't make it right, it only helps to articulate radio programmers deaf ears.Atlas has more imagination, a better voice, more of an artist's heart and, in all frankless, is more fun to look at than Madonna, Britney Spears, the comic Prince of Pop, or whoever the latest American marketing tool is who's ruling whatever charts people pay attention to.Once again, American radio misses the boat."
Natacha's Best Album
Zekeriyah | Chicago, IL | 06/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pop singer Natacha Atlas is one of the best voices in Arabic pop music, both in Egypt and in the west. Because she sings in Arabic, English and French, her music is both beautiful and easily approachable to western ears. Although at times she does play up the stereotypes, making her music "more Egyptian", she is one of the most talented pop stars around. From the romantic opening song "Mon Amie la Rose" to the stunning tracks "Kifaya" (enough) and "One Brief Moment", she enthralls you, making you want to dance, listen and even sing along. This is probably her best CD, and I strongly recommend you check out her other works if you appreciate this. Aside from the aforementioned songs, I also am particularly fond of "Bastet", "The Righteous Path" and "Bilaadi" (My Country). Check her out, especially if your new to Arabic/Egyptian pop music. She is definately an easy introduction for westerners who may be unused to Egyptian music or the Arabic language."
Arabic mystery, French sensuality, British precision
Rhys Hughes | Swansea, Wales, Europe | 12/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great album. Most of the songs are sung in Arabic, which is a beautiful language, but Natacha displays her versatility by also including a song in French and one in English. This is something she has done on other albums. On GEDIDA, the opening song is the French one, and it's very mysterious and smooth: she sounds a little bit like Liz Frazer of the Cocteau Twins. But the following songs show that she has a wider range than Liz. They are suffused with the Egyptian tradition, with insistent but subtle rhythms and evocative melodies. This is exuberant music, very tightly orchestrated and cleverly arranged, the various instruments held together by Natacha's astonishing voice, which can swoop or be breathy or fierce. Natacha is marvellous."
Gedida Grooves
Wil | AL | 08/29/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is arguably the best showcase for the talents of Natacha Atlas, with its combination of Egyptian seductiveness, traditional instrumentation, and modern grooves built around that enchanting voice. Close your eyes and you can almost smell the air and taste the mysterious aura of the Egyptian culture.
The first half of the disc is the best, with Aqaba, Bahlam, Ezzay, and the irresistible Mistaneek shining the brightest. The second half of the disc is much weaker, but still contains interesting tracks such as The Righteous Path. But the power of the first part of the disc makes up for the weakness of the second, and is still worthy of being heard. So do yourself a favor and pick up this disc, especially if you are a fan of world music."