Expressions: Live in Toulouse

What lies ahead for Natacha Atlas? It’s been 20 years since she played good fairy at the christening of world dance fusion and her first solo recordings helped define a genre. However, while it’s understandable that she has moved on from her signature sound of synth drones and drum loops, her recent output has been variable. This live recording from a concert in Toulouse focuses on music inspired by Atlas’ partnership with violinist Samy Bishai and marks a deepening interest in Arab classical music. The blend of lush orchestral textures, traditional instruments and jazz harmonies are immediately reminiscent of the legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz and her voice now shares some of that same controlled longing.

As always with Natacha Atlas, there are also a few surprises and her arrangement of Nick Drake’s ‘Riverman’ suavely shifts from Nelson Riddle to Ziad Rahbani. Considering it’s a live recording, the standard of sound quality is extraordinarily high and credit should go to Bishai for leading such a tight ensemble of diverse musicians. What is still sadly missing is any of that serious playfulness that blessed her earlier work: Atlas is unlikely to find a place in the pantheon of Arab divas and her challenge now is to find a framework that adequately presents her manifold talents as a mature artist.