Customer Reviews

Halim

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Simply, I would recommend everyone to buy this album. Of course I know that my musical taste isn't identical to everyone else's, but since Natacha Atlas probably is the most addictive music I've ever come across, it is saying a lot as there actually is lots of music out there.

OK, this music sounds quite different at first listen unless you're not already into ethnic music, but don't worry; it is accessible. 'Halim' is a most rare musical masterpiece. The blend is too perfect: Natacha Atlas' voice, so delightful and sexy, and the beautiful Arabic language(yes, it is very beautiful when sung by Natacha Atlas). The exotic rhythms, and sometimes the good techno feel (however this album isn't very technoish). High-class arrangements, without any flaws as far as I can hear.

After having bought `Diaspora' and `Gedida' I didn't expect `Halim' to be as good as my first two superb Atlas purchases, but I was very impressed by how strong and mature the songs on this album are. The opening tune `Marifnaash' is really full of go and always takes me into ecstasy (like all of the tunes), `Ya Weledi' and `Andeel' are other stand-outs. Also, I appreciate very much the tracks on which the melodies get cheesy (for example 'Amulet', 'Moustahil'), because the `cheese' works excellent with Natachas voice. Each one of the tunes here has its own charm.

`Gedida' is my favourite Natacha Atlas album, but `Halim' comes very close and belongs to the essential cds of my record collection that I have to listen to once (at least) a day. Buy it.

2) "Halim" (1997)-Natacha Atlas. There is no excuse for not buying this CD-it's crucial to any world music collection! Less dub stuff than her first CD more singable tunes and a more polished CD. Nothing short of brilliant. She can cover everything from classical Arabic singing to modern dance/dub tunes-her range is phenomenal. Too bad she hid in the shadow of TransGlobal Underground and Jah Wobble for so long. If you like this, you should try her first CD and, while you're at it-check out TransGlobal Underground as they aren't slouches either. Jaz Coleman (Killing Joke/Victorious City) co-produced a few tracks, as did some of her cronies at TransGlobal Underground. The cronies are Hamid Mantu, Neil Sparkes, Alex Kasiek and Count Dubulah. Of interest, John Reynolds and Justin Adams also produce a couple of songs for Natacha. They are the same chaps who helped produced Abdel Ali Slimani's "Mraya". Also, Adams and Reynolds were part of Jah Wobble's- "Invaders of the Heart" (1991). The first track, "Marifnaash" has a dash of Middle Eastern flavour to an otherwise 'pop hit' with strings, accordion and a familiar Wobble bass line along with the searing voice of Natacha. The next cut, "Moustahil" starts with snake-charmer sound on clarinet with Hammond organ backing and gradually builds into something that the TransGlobal guys hijack. Natasha's 'youyous' signal the segue into her next megahit and dance hall favourite-"Amulet". "Amulet" is the cut that most likely will be aired on FM stations. This track enjoyed amazing success here in the Middle East. Moreover, this CD continually sells out over here in UAE. Back to more traditional stuff with "Leyli". This is one of my favourites and is done in dub style-"Kidda". I think it should have been called-"Leish, Habibi, Leish". Good darbuka beats, some ney flute, funky bass line and guitar and violin along with Natacha pouring her heart out in the lyrics-"Why, my love, why? " The gong brings closure to this lovely hit. Back to the Maghreb on track 6, "Sweeter than Any Sweets" and you could easily think imagine that you are in Morocco with the drummers of Jajouka for this beginning. Initially, Robbie & Sly dub sounds take over! Then it's Count Dubulah on bass, Cairo stings and oud that follow the melody line as well as Natacha's powerful voice. Don't be fooled by the Sergio Leone beginning to this next one as it is not music for spaghetti westerns. Strangely enough, "Ya Weledi" has a Cheb Hasni feel to it especially the keyboard work and solo part-way through the track. On tracks 8 and 9, I was wondering why this tune was vaguely familiar-it has Jaz Coleman's signature all over it. Check out the "Victorious City" that he co-produced with Anne Dudley and Killing Joke's "Brighter than a 100 Suns". These two songs are quieter than the earlier stuff and Coleman lets Natacha's voice be the commanding instrument. Track 10, "Gafsa" is a powerful, acoustic piece with Natasha's voice, a Spanish guitar, cello and strings. On "Ya Albi Ehda" we go back to classical music style and back to the studio in Egypt. Essam Rashad and his orchestra accompany Atlas on this offering.

The talent of this woman is undescribable. In some of her songs the music seems almost touchable. Its as if she took the whole universe and weaved it into a song. When I listen to her melodies I can see the stars, the galaxies, I can see love. This is the kind of art that used to be in the world, beautiful, powerful, honest, not on a quest for money but on a journey through creativity. This music is totally alive and I think it gives and changes the world more than any amount of money ever could.

Halim may be my favorite Natacha Atlas album. Its already a given for me that she is my favorite Arabic singer, and since Fairuz holds the mantle of 'The Voice of Arabia,' I nominate Natacha Atlas to represent us Arab Americans, or English Arabs, or French Arabs, or what have you. Not only does Natacha introduce more electronic beats to her clever songs, but she also comemorates more traditional elements conveyed in songs like Ya Weledi, which accentuates her gorgeous, siren voice. Her lyrics are refreshingly somber at times, and its quite pleasant to know she actually WRITES her songs, I think thats quite a rarity when it comes to Arab singers. If one wishes to have Natacha Atlas they should get Diaspora to Gedida, and kindly dismiss Something Dangerous...awaiting her new album!

This is my personal favorite of Atlas' albums because in my opinion it shows off her AMAZING voice the best. It is a bit more traditonal than Gedida and Ayeshteni, but still great. Anytime that I need creative inspiration, I just pop this one in and imagine I'm floating down the river Nile at sunset! The best tracks are #1 and #7. I've also heard that this music is great for belly dancing, but since I don't belly dance (although I'd like to have time to take some classes) I'll leave that up to you to decide. But, as I said in the beginning, the main point of this CD is Atlas' sonorous, silky, sensuous voice. Even if you don't speak Arabic and therefore don't understand a word she's saying (like me), it's still fantastic to listen to and gets its point across. Two words of adviceBUY IT!!!!

I was first introduced to Natacha Atlas over the summer of 2006 through Amazon's free music download section, in which I downloaded "Mish Fadilak" from her fourth album, Ayeshteni (which I highly recommend). Since then I have purchased seven of her albums in addition to most of the TransGlobal Underground and Jah Wobble songs that showcase her incredible voice. The first album I bought was Halim, which is Natacha's best in my opinion. Diaspora (first album) and Gedida (third album) are not far behind, but Halim stands out as having the most incredible and creative arrangement of songs. Diaspora is more ambient dub, while Gedida is largely influenced by Arabic pop and R&B. Sung entirely in Arabic, Halim is a perfect balance of ambience/electronic, R&B, Arabic pop, and traditional Middle Eastern medleys. And the album artwork is beautiful in itself, showcasing Egyptian wall paintings, in which, according to the liner notes, Natacha Atlas had a hand.

Marifnaash, Moustahil, Amulet, and Kidda are great pop songs, all of which feature shuffling dancebeats along with indigenous instruments such as oud and dharabuka. In Amulet, which you can view on YouTube, Natacha Atlas is backed by energetic vocals from Sawt el Atlas. Belly dancers will delight in Leyli, Ya Weledi, and Enogoom Wil Amar (an outstanding song with lush Middle Eastern arrangements). Ya Weledi has a marching rythm with beautiful Middle Eastern combinations, and the more classical Ya Albi Ehda is reminiscent of the legendary Fairuz. The R&B-influenced arrangements include Sweeter than Any Sweets and Agib, in which Atlas' snake-charmed voice arrests the senses. The lyrics of Andeel speak for the song itself: "As intoxicating as full bodied wine/ As essential as the blood that runs through my veins..." Andeel, with its ambient Middle Eastern allure, is indeed intoxicating and Natacha's well-conditioned voice "stirs the patina of emotions/ That lie in another world..." Andeel is truly my favorite on the album. Gafsa is the mellowest song, in which Natacha's voice is beautiful and longing. All of the songs are delightfully poetic. Here is a sample of Enogoom Wil Amar taken from the liner notes, which include lyrical snippets in English from nine of the songs:

I miss you
My love burns to see you again
I keep company with the stars
And the moon and the bitter sweet night
And there is a magic to my life
Made by you

Halim is an overall amazing album that deserves widespread recognition. I highly recommend this album to anyone who loves Arabic pop, traditional Middle Eastern, and electronic music.

i think this album is really great, but i only gave it four stars because the first few tracks are awsome, easy to dance to and thouroughly enjoyable (read cross-cultural appeal), then most of the rest of the album slows down, and gets a little more "traditional". this in it's self isn't so bad, but many of the tracks are very long (5+ min.), which in turn makes the whole album long, and can leave you feeling a little emotionally spent if you listen to the entire thing from beginning to end.
still, it's worth every penny.

Let me just say I LOVE THIS CD!... This music is so upbeat and complex and just...you have to get up and dance! You have to listen to it again and again! It has Middle Eastern rhythyms and instruments, with a western influence as well. The Arab lyrics sound so bouncy, Natacha Atlas sings them with such energy and ferocity without being overpowering. My favourite songs are "Amulet", "Moustahil", "Marifnaash", and "Agib". I highly recommend this CD!

I bought Diaspora some years ago, but have always had trouble listening to it in one go. With this fantastic CD I don't have that problem at all. In fact, I could easily push the repeat button to play it again. A strong ethnic CD, but at the same time very friendly to western ears that hear Arabic music for the first time.

I first came upon this album through the film "3-Iron" by the Korean director Kim Ki-duk. The song "Gafsa" plays a prominent role in that film.

I like both Middle Eastern vocals and electronic dance music--I'm just not sure how much I like the two TOGETHER. Atlas has a very sensual voice and knows how to use it. Most of the tracks on this album are decent, if not especially memorable.

"Gafsa," however, is in my mind a strong contender to be one of the most beautiful songs ever. A heartrending melody, exquisitely sung, with an acoustic arrangement that's nothing short of perfection. I could listen to this song forever and never get tired of it.