Ayeshteni

Natacha Atlas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 29, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mantra
• ASIN: B000059N0C
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Indie Music > New Age > World Dance
  • #65 in Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Ambient

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With her fourth solo recording, Ayeshteni, Egyptian songstress Natacha Atlas puts her voice dead center, coming on snake-hipped, seductive, and sophisticated with a feral emotional core. Made in Cairo (with some assistance from her Transglobal Underground mates, whom Atlas has collaborated with since the early '90s), the songs swell shaabi style, incorporating trippy beats, guttural cries, sinuous strings, and a disturbing yet undeniable beauty that brings no one to mind so much as musical kindred spirit Björk. The latter is perhaps most evident on the artist's bewitching scratch-filled take on Screamin' Jay Hawkins's "I Put a Spell on You" and the Jacques Brel classic "Ne Me Quitte Pas," infused here with North African-by-21st-century fervor. Elsewhere, Western listeners need not fear the Arabic language; Atlas's focused delivery and challenging arrangements are more than tastefully tuneful, rather they are so compelling as to transcend language and cultural barriers. This is music of the cells, the body, and the roaming spirit; yet another way to free the mind and have the flesh follow. --Paige La Grone

Product Description

Natacha Atlas

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Natacha Atlas's 'most Arab' album, May 8, 2001

By 

HHK (Silver Spring, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ayeshteni (Audio CD)

I got an advanced copy of this CD last week. Initially, I was disappointed with the general sound, except a few songs, but one week later, I like most of the songs, my favorite songs being Screaming Jay Hawkins cover 'I Put A Spell on You' and 'Soleil D'egypte'.

This album was recorded almost entirely in Cairo, with Egyptian musicians, so it comes as no surprise that it is Natacha's most Arab album. Most of the songs are in the popular Egytpian shaabi style. And in order not to totally alienate the Western audience, who are more 'Diaspora'(her club-friendly debut album) than 'Halim' (her more Middle Eastern sophomore effort), a few world-electronica songs are thrown into the mix. (particularly 'Soleil D'egypte', partly produced by multicultural French band Zebda and has a nice drum'n'bass rhythm and 'Manbai', which is remixed by Nitin Sawhney.) I expected 'Manbai' to be more lounge-y like most of Nitin Sawhney's stuff, but this track uses a standard dance beat, which I found very uninteresting, but the way the Natacha Atlas's voice is brought into the mix makes this song interesting.

Natacha Atlas covers two very well-known songs in this album. Screaming Jay Hawkins's 'I Put A Spell On You' and Jacques Brel's timeless 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' are both given an Egyptian treat. I think 'I Put a Spell On You' works really well, with Arabic instruments, vocals and male choir. 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' is not bad either, but Rai singer Faudel already covered this song with better results, in my opinion. Natacha's version is very similar to Faudel's, and I think Faudel sings this song better.

The rest of the songs are sung in Arabic. Initially, they all sounded very similar to me, but they grew on me later on. Each song has its own interesting moments. 'Shubra' has the great male choir singing, 'Ashwa' is a nice sexy song that has an interesting refrain where I like the way Natacha plays with her voice, 'Ayeshteni' has a nice string section (but that doesn't save the song, this is the most mediocre song here). 'Mish Fadilak' and 'Fakrenha' stand out as the best Arabic songs in the album. 'Mish Fadilak' is an exhilarating song that with a great melody and is the song that is most fun to listen and dance to. 'Fakrenha' is also very good with the great string arrangements.

I would recommend this album if you liked Natacha's Halim or Gedida. If you liked Diaspora but not aforementioned two albums, this is definitely not for you. Fans of Arab singers such as Khaled, Cheb Mami, Fairuz, Amr Diab will also enjoy this album.

In my opinion, this album also indicates that Natacha has come a long way since she sang for Jah Wobble's album. From being a exotic vocalist in ethno-techno circles (I even read recently that in 80's, she was in the goth crowd!) , she paved her way to being a full-fledged Middle-Eastern diva. Once described herself as 'human Gaza strip' with her multicultural (Sephardic Jew- Egyptian-British and what not) background, this album shows that she is Egyptian at heart, no matter what her background is.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magic Spell of Natacha Atlas ..., December 27, 2006

By 

Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ayeshteni (Audio CD)

Natacha Atlas manages to weave Egyptian/Arabic music into a mesmerizing experience with her English version of Screamin' Joe Hawkins "I put a spell on you" and the beautiful French tune, "Ne Me Quitte Pas" ... It is her smokey, sultry, sexy voice which will definitely do the trick if by chance the exotic Arabic music and instruments should fail ... *not* likely to happen.

The traditional and modern instruments, the oud, the darbouka (percussion) and drums, occasionally the violin, viola or cello, qanun, along with the clarinet and guitar create an exciting adventurous visit to an Arabic cafe ...The programming, back up vocals, and overall stylization of music is exceptional in creating a mood and feeling which is truly cultural and authentic.

The entire CD contains music and vocals which capture the listener's attention and captivate for the entire playing time ... Take a look at the cover, Natacha's voice sounds as enticing as her extraordinairy beauty ... She has an outstanding ability to interpret the traditional cultural Arabic vocals and music into mainstream music. It is a most precious gift. Erika Borsos (pepper flower)

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arabic Eclectic, October 17, 2002

By 

Kevin L. Nenstiel "omnivore" (Kearney, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ayeshteni (Audio CD)

It's a shame Americans are so famously averse to songs that aren't in English. We're cutting ourselves off from so much worthy culture! This CD is just one example of what we're losing.

Only one song on this disc is in English, a tricked-out version of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' classic "I Put a Spell On You." You can hear the blues influence even through the Arabic dance riffs that dominate, showing Atlas' eclectic force. It's tempting to pass this track off as a sly joke, and it is that, too; but as you listen to it you realize Atlas is in deadly earnest. It's an extremely powerful song.

"I Put a Spell On You" is one of the two songs on this CD that Atlas didn't have at least a hand in writing-the other one is "Ne Me Quitte Pas," by French songwriter Jaques Brel. This is also one of the two songs in French; the remaining eight tracks are in Arabic. The rhythms inherent in the different languages open up a palatte of musical possibilities. Where all-English albums can quickly start to sound repetetive, this one never tires out.

Natacha Atlas makes heavy use of non-traditional musical tricks, bringing in European instruments, adding in DJ scratches, and whatever else takes her fancy. The only consistent theme through this album is that the tracks have a danceable beat. Atlas is herself an experienced and skillful dancer; this album demonstrates how that transfers to her music.

This album will never get the American support it deserves. This is a damn shame, since it's a superlative and multi-layered selection of songs that can appeal to a broad audience. Give it what support you can, and share it with anyone who will listen. Get the word out. Maybe we can make this world a little more pleasant to listen to.