Ya Nass

Although relatively unknown in Europe, Yasmine Hamdan is something of an icon among the educated urban elite of the Arab world through her work with the innovative Lebanese synth-band Soapkills. For this album she collaborated with Marc Collin of Nouvelle Vague and the influence of their Gallic bossa nova and closely recorded, winsome vocals can be clearly heard throughout. Things start very promisingly: ‘Deny’ is alluringly simple and beautifully produced, a perfect example of what can be done with sparse but well-chosen musical resources. Unfortunately, not all the songs are so remarkable, particularly for listeners who cannot enjoy Hamdan’s intricate toying with different Arabic dialects. For the uninitiated, this is one CD that really does not repay repeated listening as many of the songs lose their identity in a faint fog of Gauloises smoke. This should probably come as no surprise for anyone who knows Nouvelle Vague’s music: though charming when first heard, they only really had one trick. It would be great to hear Yasmin Hamdan taking the best of the ideas on Ya Nass and collaborating with a producer who can lend a little more backbone and variety to her appealingly intelligent songs.