Diaspora

Natacha Atlas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002P4L
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,557 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Iskanderia

2. Leysh Nat'arak

3. Diaspora

4. Yalla Chant

5. Alhambra, Pt. 1

6. Duden

7. Feres

8. Fun Does Not Exist

9. Dub Yalil

10. Iskanderia [Atlas Zamalek]

11. Diaspora [Ballon Theatre Mix]

12. Fun Does Not Exist [Dolmus Mix]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Trans-Global Underground diva wails in Arabic as her south London mates bring on the pagan beats. Atlas may eventually shrug at her North American sales, but this is more adventurous than Page & Plant's forays into middle eastern exotica and twice as authentic. --Jeff Bateman

Product Description

Track Listing 1. Iskanderia 2. Leysh Nat'arak 3. Diaspora 4. Yalla Chant 5. Alhambra, Pt. 1 6. Duden 7. Feres 8. Fun Does Not Exist 9. Dub Yalil 10. Iskanderia - (Atlas Zamalek) 11. Diaspora - (Ballon Theatre Mix) 12. Fun Does Not Exist - (Dolmus Mix)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypnotic pulse of exotic places east?, October 15, 2003

By 

Lao Che (Central New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Diaspora (Audio CD)

One Saturday night, my friends and I were witnesses to a beautiful belly dancer in full swing at a local Middle Eastern place. I always had an idea of what it was like - but the reality was amazing. It took me away to another time and place (the hookah I was smoking helped a little.) The music seemed to sweep her around the room in a seductive sheet of smoke and bells. She told me she usually works with tracks off DIASPORA in addition to other more traditional music. Diaspora is a word that refers to Jews living outside the promised land - the dispersed, essentially.

I've heard most of Natacha Atlas' music - and will state flat out this is her best, most hypnotic solo album. Halim is my second favorite - and the rest kind of fade out from there. An artist does what an artist does: she seems to be moving towards the R&B and hip-hop mix genres that are popular in the United States and Europe. Not sure why? She may be trying to cut her teeth in these styles and try to make a bigger break? How unfortunate. If you listen to samples of her later albums, you will know what I'm describing. Sounds like the junk I hear on European variety shows and MTV. Wherever her career has been moving toward: DIASPORA is still simply magic - very refreshing, full of a sensual and erotic life all its own. I wish that Natacha would return to this more traditional style, but alas she has seen the future and it will be...

Get DIASPORA and be whisked away. If you have a work out schedule, enjoy cheesy house music or third-rate hip-hop, then by all means explore her other solo efforts. I will stop here, thank you very much. I had to purchase a USED COPY of this album, as it is now unfortunately OUT OF PRINT.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Natacha at her best!, September 9, 2006

By 

soundsmith (seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diaspora (Audio CD)

I am writing this partly because I gave only two stars for Mishmaoul. I am a big fan of Arabic pop & folk music and Diaspora was my first introduction to Natacha. I fell in love with her voice then, the first time and forever but I have little patience for too much western pop hybrids that do no justice to her beautiful Arabic singing (the cheezy 'I put a spell on you' from Ayeshteni, or the attempt at hip-hop 'Feen' from Mishmaoul). DIaspora definitely stays more to her roots than her later works. I am also writing this review in the hope that someday Natacha will return to her roots and do some Arabic folk songs or more original pieces like these. Also to the producers/engineers: too much verb, she doesnt need it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine blend of western dance music and arab music, September 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Diaspora (Audio CD)

This is a stunning CD. I've never heard something like this. Atlas' music is a fine blend of western dance music and arab music (whatever that maybe). She's got a warm voice and in some songs she sounds like a siren in danger. She sings and wails about the middle east, the desert, love and old prophesies. Although you can hear that she made this album with band members from Transglobal Underground, she has managed to create a sound of her own. This is definitely not an easy listening album. It is so rare that you are very likely to make enemies with it. Sofar, I haven't been able to convince friends or family of the beauty of this album. Play it loud and alone. This is a sound investment.