Rating: NNN
For Mish Maoul (an Egyptian expression meaning “unbelievable”), Natacha Atlas has reunited with Nick Page and Count Dubulah of Transglobal Underground, now of the Temple of Sound. This record runs the gamut from brilliant to tawdry. Atlas, known for blending North African and Arabic with Western music to create a hybrid dance form, is actually at her best at her most traditional. The sparse, arid, whirling chants and ululating of Hayati Inta are the best part of this record, while tracks like Feen, featuring the rapping of Princess Julianna, are, sadly, just a little cheesy. This sort of music can be over-hybridized, even on an alleged “return to her roots,” which can feel tacky and cluttered. There’s a lot to be said for simplicity. Atlas’s vocals are still beautiful and haunting, and there are enough great tracks to make Mish Maoul worthwhile. You’ll probably want to audiograb them, though.
