Africa
Souad Massi
Oumniya (Wrasse Records)
Algeria’s Souad Massi returned in 2019 with her finest album since her debut won her a nomination for Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music almost two decades ago. Singing in Arabic and French, the ten songs fuse Arabic pop and Gallic chanson into a beguiling sound, full of yearning melodies delivered with a compelling conviction. A Top of the World in #154.