Customer Reviews

Donia

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i am usually a fan of the great cheb mami, but when i saw this at the store, i couldn't resist.i really like "ne me judgez pas," and even if you don't speak arabic or french (i speak both, but all my friends like the album) you will find yourself dancing along within the first 30 seconds of "ne me Judgez pas" or "ness". a must for arab music fans and those who dont even like arab music. its also a great cd to work out to! it keeps you going!!

Donia is upbeat music that will make you want to shake your booty. "Ness," featuring Natacha Atlas, is my favourite track with its dumbek solo at the beginning and Natacha's trademark soulful vox. The music is at times funky, at times classical Egyptian string orchestra, and at all times danceable, with the faster tempo songs being my personal favourites. Languages vary from French to Spanish and Arabic, and even if you don't understand these tongues, you'll find yourself tapping along to the beat.

Algerian Rai meets Moroccan club pop meets what else? Sawt el Atlas are cool enough that their mix of percussion, beats, and Arabic vocals sounds just right as world music, quick-pulse dance sounds, or whatever. They cut some of "Donia" in Paris, with Sodi, the producer of Les Negresses Vertes, Femi Kuti, and others at the controls. They finished it in Cairo, surely a music freak's mecca--just check out the Egyptian strings, small percussion instruments, and general vibe. Unforgettable. Natacha Atlas drops in for vocals on "Ness" and all of Donia is just spectacularly global. They've toured with Massilia Sound System, Khaled, Cheb Mami, Keziah Jones, Tonton David, and more. So if that's your thing, rock this.

These guys just played at WOMAD in Seattle on July 29, and wow! They were awesome! I didn't stay for the whole set (holding my spot for Peter Gabriel & Afro Celt won out) and I didn't have time to pick up a CD there, so I'm ordering it here. From the little I did hear and from the enthusiastic crowd they drew, I'm really impressed. I'm really looking forward to this CD arriving!

From the Atlas mountains of Morocco, Sawt el Atlas combines Algerian rai, Arabic pop, reggae and dance strands together to form a delightful cross-cultural fusion. From the pulsing rhythms of 'Zmane y Dore' to the laid back sound of 'Donia' to the smooth Latin stylings of 'Andalucia,' Sawt el Atlas produce a wonderful mix, all while keeping their eyes on their Maghrebi roots and sensibilities. But the real highlight for fans of Arabic music probably comes from the guest vocals of North African world music diva Natacha Atlas on the track 'Ness,' which is sure to become a favorite. Over all, this is a great album and well worth checking out, especially if you want to hear a new direction in North African pop. Five stars all the way!