NATACHA ATLAS

Mounqaliba-Rising: The Remixes

2011-10-10

A remix of an earlier album by the same name, Mounqaliba-Rising: The Remixes is more palatable than the songs in their original form (in my humble opinion). Beats Antique, David Starfire, Earthrise SoundSystem and others have proffered their take on Atlas’ Middle Eastern sound--for the better. Five versions of her song “Batkallim” are presented: track #1 is a journey of many musical elements including strings, piano, sitar, and is heavily synthed. It’s an 8 minute song but is the best this CD has to offer. The whole album, with the exception of “Riverman,” has a club beat. “Makaan” is heavily autotuned/vocoded. “Mounqaliba,” the title track, is mysterious and odd with background sirens but memorable. Natacha produces a delicate cover of Nick Drake’s “Riverman” on track #12. Bombay Dub’s version of “Batkallim” (#10) is a pleasing piece of global fusion electronica. The last song “Egypt” uses audio clips of the recent uprising as its backdrop…the story-song speaks of a people standing toe-to-toe with their government, all the while the melody is laced with piano and driving beat. – Pam VandeKerkhoff

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #World

  • reviewed 03/2005

    Reza
    Ray of the Wine

  • reviewed 06/2017

    Pascal Bokar
    American Shores

  • reviewed 03/2009

    Luminescent Orchestrii
    Neptune's Daughter

  • reviewed 08/2008

    VARIOUS ARTISTS
    Ayombe: The Heart of Columbia's Musica Vallenata

  • reviewed 12/2006

    VARIOUS
    One World Many Cultures

  • reviewed 10/2011

    JORGE CALDERON
    Blue City & on Mardi Gras Day

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.