Noor Shimaal: Where Africa Meets the Orient

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * *)

Despite having an English singer in the Noor Shimaal three-piece, the music of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and so on is mostly delivered in its languages of origin.

But while the musicianship is excellent the vocals — aside from the yearning M'hanni lebled — don't quite soar or swoop in the manner of the better singers from the region.

A useful introduction, but the casual listener prepared to become a convert will head for albums by Hossan Ramzy, the late Umm Kalthum, contemporary artists like the Moroccan Hassan Hakmoun who blends old and new, or accessible compilations on Real World and Hemisphere.


Label: Elite