NATACHA ATLAS - Strange Days
Whirlwind Recordings WR4744
Natacha Atlas - voice (tracks 1-10) backing vocals (tracks 2 & 7), electronics and sound design (track 10); Samy Bishai - violin (tracks 1-10), viola (tracks 1-3, 6) electric guitar (tracks 5 & 10), backing vocals (tracks 2 & 10), electronics & sound design (tracks 2&10); Hayden Powell - trumpet (tracks 1, 2, 4 & 8), flugelhorn (tracks 5 & 10); Robinson Khoury - trombone (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Alcyona Mick - piano (tracks 1-9); Andy Hamill - double bass (tracks 1-9); Asaf Sirkis - drums (tracks 1, 3, 4-6); Laurie Lowe - drums (tracks 2, 7 & 8)
Guests:
Joss Stone - voice, bvs (8); Tanya Wells - voice (7), bvs (5, 7, 8); Sofiane Saidi - voice (6), bvs (2 & 6); Idris Rahman - tenor sax (2, 5 & 8), clarinet & bass clarinet (10), flute (5 & 10);
Paulo Vinicius - acoustic guitar (5); Oli Savill - percussion (5); Vasilis Sarikis - percussion (9); Oli Langford - violin (2, 3, 5, 8-10); Vincent Greene - viola (2, 3, 5, 8-10); Ivan Hussey - cello (2, 3, 5, 8-10); Emma Smith, Jennymay Logan, Stephen Hussey, Gillon Cameron, Sally Jackson - violin (9); Mandy Drummond - viola (9); Chris Worsey - cello (9)
As one might deduce from the album's title, Strange Days is never quite what it appears and is indeed surrounded by mystery. The music is often gentle and intimate, yet highly charged with emotion that is almost palpable, bringing together disparate musical elements from Western and Middle Eastern influences that ensure an intriguing and beguiling album.
There is also a highly creative mind at work in Samy Bishai, who as well as co-composer credits for much of the material here, arranged all the music in a most effective way. Utilising a string quartet along with, at times, a jazz quintet, Bishai is able to create a sound world that is perfectly in tune with the vocalist's unique delivery and delicate tonal inflections, yet leaving space for some telling contributions from trumpeter Hayden Powell and pianist, Alcyona Mick.
To this end, I found that it is these (highly) original songs that capture the interest, with Natacha's almost dreamlike voice on the closing 'Moonchild', with its haunting melody and wonderful arrangement for string quartet, bass clarinet, trombone and Powell's inspired flugelhorn. Atlas' extraordinary voice conjures up a myriad of textures, timbre and nuances that from the outset create a comforting yet at times uneasy and disconcerting aspect that heightens the music, making the use of the dramatic arranging of Bishai as heard on the superb 'Out Of Time' with a outstanding solo from Alcyona Mick.
Even when not singing in English, as on 'Maktoub' and 'Min Baad' the music speaks volumes, and as often the translation provided in the accompanying booklet can be more of a distraction than a benefit when listening to the songs. 'Sunshine Day' does exactly what it says in the title, a bright ray of sunshine that again is skillfully arranged, and has an infectious and exuberant rhythm that cannot fail to uplift, and 'Inherent Rhythm' is a tour de force for both Samy Bishai's stunning violin and the twin voices of Natacha and Tanya Wells.
This is not a jazz album per se although it does feature improvisations from some incredible jazz talent, however when the results are as good as this should we be quick to try and pigeon hole the music? Instead we should simply let the sounds was over, and luxuriate in the beautiful songs crafted on this rather unique album.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Whirlwind Recordings WR4744
Natacha Atlas - voice (tracks 1-10) backing vocals (tracks 2 & 7), electronics and sound design (track 10); Samy Bishai - violin (tracks 1-10), viola (tracks 1-3, 6) electric guitar (tracks 5 & 10), backing vocals (tracks 2 & 10), electronics & sound design (tracks 2&10); Hayden Powell - trumpet (tracks 1, 2, 4 & 8), flugelhorn (tracks 5 & 10); Robinson Khoury - trombone (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Alcyona Mick - piano (tracks 1-9); Andy Hamill - double bass (tracks 1-9); Asaf Sirkis - drums (tracks 1, 3, 4-6); Laurie Lowe - drums (tracks 2, 7 & 8)
Guests:
Joss Stone - voice, bvs (8); Tanya Wells - voice (7), bvs (5, 7, 8); Sofiane Saidi - voice (6), bvs (2 & 6); Idris Rahman - tenor sax (2, 5 & 8), clarinet & bass clarinet (10), flute (5 & 10);
Paulo Vinicius - acoustic guitar (5); Oli Savill - percussion (5); Vasilis Sarikis - percussion (9); Oli Langford - violin (2, 3, 5, 8-10); Vincent Greene - viola (2, 3, 5, 8-10); Ivan Hussey - cello (2, 3, 5, 8-10); Emma Smith, Jennymay Logan, Stephen Hussey, Gillon Cameron, Sally Jackson - violin (9); Mandy Drummond - viola (9); Chris Worsey - cello (9)
As one might deduce from the album's title, Strange Days is never quite what it appears and is indeed surrounded by mystery. The music is often gentle and intimate, yet highly charged with emotion that is almost palpable, bringing together disparate musical elements from Western and Middle Eastern influences that ensure an intriguing and beguiling album.
There is also a highly creative mind at work in Samy Bishai, who as well as co-composer credits for much of the material here, arranged all the music in a most effective way. Utilising a string quartet along with, at times, a jazz quintet, Bishai is able to create a sound world that is perfectly in tune with the vocalist's unique delivery and delicate tonal inflections, yet leaving space for some telling contributions from trumpeter Hayden Powell and pianist, Alcyona Mick.
To this end, I found that it is these (highly) original songs that capture the interest, with Natacha's almost dreamlike voice on the closing 'Moonchild', with its haunting melody and wonderful arrangement for string quartet, bass clarinet, trombone and Powell's inspired flugelhorn. Atlas' extraordinary voice conjures up a myriad of textures, timbre and nuances that from the outset create a comforting yet at times uneasy and disconcerting aspect that heightens the music, making the use of the dramatic arranging of Bishai as heard on the superb 'Out Of Time' with a outstanding solo from Alcyona Mick.
Even when not singing in English, as on 'Maktoub' and 'Min Baad' the music speaks volumes, and as often the translation provided in the accompanying booklet can be more of a distraction than a benefit when listening to the songs. 'Sunshine Day' does exactly what it says in the title, a bright ray of sunshine that again is skillfully arranged, and has an infectious and exuberant rhythm that cannot fail to uplift, and 'Inherent Rhythm' is a tour de force for both Samy Bishai's stunning violin and the twin voices of Natacha and Tanya Wells.
This is not a jazz album per se although it does feature improvisations from some incredible jazz talent, however when the results are as good as this should we be quick to try and pigeon hole the music? Instead we should simply let the sounds was over, and luxuriate in the beautiful songs crafted on this rather unique album.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
