Hind - Hind 2008

When asked about her talent, the great Mayada El Hennawi called Hind "one of today's greatest, most beautiful voices," and for good reason. The young Bahraini singer's soulful approach to everything from traditional Saudi and Emirati songs to pop and ballads, is a refreshing change in a genre where young singers tend to stick to simple, non-challenging songs. The album has an impressive list of musicians, with Dr. Abdelrab Idriss, Nicolas Saade Nakhle, Michel Fadel, Tarek Aakef, Nizar Abdallah, İsmail Tunçbilek (on bouzouk), and Ali Bin Mohamed (who duets with her on the "Khaliji blues"-style Yeji Mennak). The album is very diverse, for example Thebahni El Shoug employs an Iraqi beat, while Teshteki has delightfully classic approach, and the Lebanese hit Maw'ed Omur brings in electric guitars and bongos. So even if you don't like one song, you will definitely find one you love. This is a high-quality production from beginning to end; synths are kept at a minimum and the instruments range from traditional ney, oud, kanun, and rebab to guitars and saxophones. Understandably, Hind recorded in Cairo, Bahrain, Dubai, Beirut, and Kuwait, with musicians from the Gulf, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey playing the various instruments. Easily her most hyped album to date, Hind's 2008 album is definitely worth a thorough listen.

Track List:
1. Meridh El Mahabba
2. Yeji Mennak
3. Thebahni El Shoug
4. Eb Kel Basata
5. Abih Yeshouf
6. Aaf El Farah
7. Hameti
8. Tawwek Ala Bali
9. Jaitek
10. Teshteki
11. Men Int
12. Maw'ed Omur
Download

Myriam Faris - Bet'oul Eih

Despite finding a great niche for herself in the oriental-dance fusion genre, Myriam did not rest on her laurels in 2008. Myriam evolved as an artist even more with Bet'oul Eih. There are a few misses, like Samir Sfair's awkward Moush Ananiya and Marwan Khoury's sleepy Betrouh, but overall Myriam's third album is solid. Like the 2005 hit Ha'leq Rahtak, the title song is written by Myriam's sister, Roula Faris, and co-composed with Marc Abdelnour, who gives the song an authentic Egyptian feel. Mohamed Rahim returns with two songs; the upbeat Eih Elli Byehsal is arranged by Jean-Marie Riachi and follows in the style of Nadini while Iyam El Sheteh is a mellow ballad with simple, but beautiful arrangement by Hadi Sharara. Ana Albi Lik will surprise those who are used to Walid Saad's oriental ballads, and Jean-Marie Riachi gives it a fresh Latin-style arrangement. Ala Khwana, also composed by Samir Sfair but arranged by Tarek Madkour, is a refreshingly enjoyable maksoum song that beats Moush Ananiya in this listener's opinion. Law Konte Radi is Myriam's first collaboration with Tamer Ali, and despite a bit of repetitiveness, it's quite good. The album finishes off with it's first single, Moukana Wein, which is Myriam's first full-on Khaliji song. Tarek Aakef proves his innovativeness once again by incorporating the sound of the seashell belt that was worn by Bahraini pearl divers in their traditional dance. The belt was also used in the controversial video Myriam shot for the song, and she learned the choreography for the dance. Interestingly enough, Ahlam recently claimed that Kuwaiti composer Abdallah El Gaoud originally offered her Moukana Wein, but she declined it because her husband think it fit her.

Track List:
1. Moush Ananiya
2. Eih Elli Byehsal
3. Inta Bet'oul Eih
4. Betrouh
5. Iyam El Sheteh
6. Ana Albi Lik
7. Ala Khwana
8. Law Konte Radi
9. Moukana Wein
Download

Darine Hadchiti - Kel El Ossa

Darine Hadchiti's third album is a solid effort from the young Lebanese singer. As always, Kel El Ossa boasts a stellar list of musicians, including Tarek Abou Jaoudeh, Hadi Sharara, Wissam El Amir, Roger Khoury, George Karam, Zaher El Baba, Mohamed Yehia, Walid Saad, Adel Aayesh, and Boudi Naoum. As is usually the case, Darine's album is quite lengthy, and so there are a number of great songs with not-so-great songs filling the gap. The album opens like her previous two, with a Tarek Abou Jaoudeh-Hadi Sharara collaboration. Meshta'a is another catchy song with an amazing fusion of Arabic and electronic music. The title song, an upbeat and fun Lebanese song composed by Wissam El Amir, follows. Kel El Ossa's arrangement is reminiscent of the style Roger Khoury used with his last collaboration with Wissam El Amir, on Melhem Zein's Alawwah. Next up is Ana Aheb (Fiha Eih Ya'ni), which is composed by one of the busiest men this year, Mohamed Yehia. Tarek Madkour's upbeat, poppy arrangement on this song is one of his better works this year. The album's first single, Rasi Ala Rasak, is an equally great song, thanks to both George Karam's upbeat composition and Boudi Naoum's fusion of pop with an Arabic beat and mizmar. Ma Bta'refni, composed by Zaher El Baba, is another enjoyable, upbeat song, even though the arrangement takes a backseat with nothing special. Hobbak Ghali Alaya, Darine's first Egyptian single, is fairly good although her vocals don't do much for the song. Darine Hadchiti's vocals are not necessarily bad, her failure to create a niche for herself is what holds her back, even after the release of her third album. Regardless of what you hear from others, Kel El Ossa is definitely worth a listen, with a number of good songs to be discovered.

download
Track List:
1. Meshta'a
2. Kel El Ossa
3. Ana Aheb (Fiha Eih Ya'ni)
4. Maw'oudeh
5. Denyeh B'ideh
6. Rasi Ala Rasak
7. Mamnou'
8. Ma'ouleh Hayda El Hob
9. Ma Bta'refni
10. Khedni Wrouh
11. Hobbak Ghali Alaya

Nawal - Nawal 2009

Nawal's long-awaited follow-up to Nawal 2006 has finally arrived, and it is definitely good. As always, Nawal has an infectiously catchy single, and the rest of the album is filled with well-chosen lyrics, and generally mellow music. Mou Liya, like El Shoug Jabek, Bi Yahsedouni Aleih, and Tammen Galbak before it, is infectiously catchy and goes places Nawal has never been before. After joining Nawal on his compositions like El Shou Jabek and Fel Bedaya, Mish'al El Orouj returns even more prominently in Mou Liya, although it is his only composition here. On this album, Nawal's Egyptian song is composed by Walid Saad, after working with the late Riyad El Hamshari on her past two albums. Bahraini arranger Sirouz has much more prominent presence on Nawal 2009 than any other arranger, a fact this listener doesn't like, but listening to the work Khaled Ez and Hani Farhat do on Hathi Jedida, Wein Antehi, and Khed'a, or İsmail Tunçbilek does on Mou Liya is gratifying enough to forget it. Sah is another beautiful song, combining Turki's meaningful lyrics with Sahm's skillful composition (which he already proved in Asalah's 2007 album, Sawaha Galbi), and Essam El Sharaiti & Hani Farhat's arrangement. Nawal 2009 caters to those who like the polished Nawal as much as it does to those who like the rougher, more old school Nawal.

download
Track List:
1. Dhagat Aleik
2. Meshtag Galoli
3. Sam
4. Leih Saket
5. Hathi Jedida
6. Mou Liya
7. May Eini
8. Sah
9. Ghab Nourek
10. Khed'a
11. Aghla Hob
12. Has Be Ghalteto
13. Min Allemek
14. Eyoun El Nas
15. Wein Antehi

Hoda Saad - Ertaht

Moroccan singer Hoda Saad's debut album is a mellow, mostly traditional one. Hoda skillfully sings in the Egyptian, Lebanese, and Khaliji dialects, as well as her native Moroccan dialect. Hoda's soft, feminine voice does not instantly distinguish itself, but it is good and well-employed throughout the album. Hoda works with some of the top names in the business, including Walid Saad, Salim Salameh, Mahmoud Khayami, and Mohamed Rifai. Looking like Egyptian songstress Sherine can't hurt either.

download
Track List:
1. Ma Kontesh
2. Ma Sadda'
3. Maghroumeh Fik
4. Abou El Erreif
5. Jit Nsidou
6. Ma Tfakkarnish
7. Ma Baddak
8. Ertaht Ashan Nesitni
9. Allah Yaster