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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Her 2003 album Deb established the Algerian expatriate Souad Massi as probably the most widely acclaimed female singer from the Arabic diaspora: quite a feat for an artist with an unfashionably non-fundamental, Western approach to her Muslim heritage. She left Algeria for France six years ago, and Mesk Elilreflects her growing homesickness. The title track, whose light flamenco guitar, embellished with oud flourishes and a sympathetic string arrangement, lends it the tone of a North African equivalent of the Latin American Tropicalismo style, refers to the memory-rush of her childhood triggered by the smell of honeysuckle. In "Kilyoum", an expat son assures his mother that everything's fine; "Miwawa" has Daby Toure joining Massi in affirming fidelity to their African roots. Massi's voice is perfect for this plaintive longing, as it is for fado-style laments such as "Malou" ("Why Is My Heart Sad") and "Dardjedi" ("Grandfather's House"). The settings involve smooth blends of oud, strings and woodwind anchored by rattling darabuka drums and loping basslines, sculpted into North African cha-chas like "Denia Wezmen" and Tinariwen-style Tuareg grooves like "Ilham". Enchanting.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Captivating and intricate music. Inspired melodies that have a timeless sound and stir the soul. My friends & family were soon tapping their feet to this splendidly refreshing blend of Arabic and Spanish "ritmos", and asking "Wow, who´s this?".
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Souad Massi left Algeria for France to become a major celebrity with her unlikely fusion of north African styles and sad, gentle western folk ballads. Now she is moving on. The overall mood is still quietly tragic, and enthusiasts of her gently powerful singing and thoughtful songs will be delighted by Hagda Wala Akter (There's Worse) which deals with the depressing life of a friend back in Algiers, or a personal lament like Khalouni. But like some female Algerian answer to Morrissey, she is clever enough to match bleak lyrics with subtle and increasingly varied musical settings. So on the exquisite Malou, she brings in flamenco influences and on Ilham she provides a vocal reminder of her Berber roots.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mesk Elil
This album certainly grows and grows. Apart from one or two average moments the overall quality here is amazing. Read more
Published on 10 April 2009 by Ms. Joanne M. Baldwin
review
Love this album, play it all the time. She has a wonderfully emotive sound. Once heard not easily forgotten
Published on 21 Nov 2008 by AW
Captivating
Really grows on you. Mostly excellent with only one track I don't like - Tell me why - because of irritating lyrics in English (a bit like the French in Michelle Ma Belle... Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2008 by Stephen Greenhalgh
She is a musician
It's so easy to get wrapped up in her story, and think about the passionate woman having to fight against fundamentalism, missing her country etc. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2006 by G. Kemp
Metro Review
Sultry is a word best used sparingly when describing female singers from foreign lands, but it seems wholly appropriate with Souad Massi. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2005
Sunday Times review
Souad Massi works at her own gentle pace. When the thirtysomething Algerian-born singer-guitarist played Shepherd’s Bush Empire a couple of years ago, her introverted manner... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2005
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