SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "ENTA ARABI" - Kabreet

Continuing my New Year's resolution about posting more songs from the lesser explored corners of the musical world, I give you this truly captivating recording from the Berlin based Yemeni/German duo Kabreet. "Enta Arabi" comes from Ibi Ibrahim & Hanno Stecher's freshly released debut album "Momken Bokra" which you can stream and purchase on Bandcamp. The elegant composition mixes some traditional Arabic instruments with minimal electronica in a subtle way. With its understated melody, nostalgic vocals and the unquestionably melodic aspect of the al-ʿArabiyyah, "Enta Arabi" is a real treat not only for those already partial to Middle Eastern sounds.



Here's the video for the equally seductive title track taken from Kabreet's first LP:

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "NEDIYA" + "HAL" - Yasmine Hamdan

Yasmine Hamdan is one of the most unique ambassadors of the Arabic music globally. Her sensual vocals and natural charisma are some of the reasons why she continues to have a cult following internationally whether it's through her original Beirut based, now-legendary trip hop duo Soapkills, through her electro incarnation as Y.A.S. with the electronic wizard that is Mirwais Ahmadzaï or finally through her sophisticated solo recordings. Both "Nediya" and "Hal", recently used in Jim Jarmusch's excellent "Only Lovers Left Alive", come from her latest solo album "Ya Nass". Both tracks are oozing class and musical finesse. Back in April last year Yasmine Hamdan created THIS playlist especially for my blog.

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Neheb N3ch Hayati" - Medusa [produced by Olof Dreijer]

Olof Dreijer from The Knife has produced Medusa’s "Neheb N3ch Hayati" for the astonishing compilation of young Arab female talents called "Sawtuha" which includes fresh Middle Eastern sounds coming from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. Medusa is a young MC from Tunis (Tunisia), one of the members of the the vital Tunisian hip hop scene. Tickling my fancy the same exotic way as Débruit & Alsarah's collaboration last year. In awe!

Medusa - Neheb N3ch Hayati (prod. Olof Dreijer) by Jakarta Records

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Alkoan Baladi الكون بلدي" - Débruit & Alsarah

I've heard this absolutely stunning track playing in one of the cafés last weekend in Brick Lane, East London. It is very fitting I was to discover this stimulating fusion of electronica and Arabic vibes in such a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan spot. I did use Shazam to find out about this up & coming collaborative project Débruit & Alsarah. Soundway Records will be releasing their debut album "Aljawal" on 11th November and it's shaping to be a feast for all the "Orientophiles" like myself. "A modern, haunting take on Sudanese music heard through the sonic lens of French artist / producer, Débruit and the poetic, ethereal lyrics and melodies of Sudanese-born singer Alsarah" as we read on the label's official press release. This intriguing album, aptly named "Aljawal" - "The Traveller", reflects Alsarah's extraordinary journey between the capital city of Sudan, Khartoum where she was born, Yemen where she relocated with her family and finally Brooklyn where she resides now. It also reflects a sonic excursion she ventured on accompanied by Débruit. Based on this incredible first track "Alkoan Baladi" I am sensing a sensation similar to "Arabology" by Y.A.S. when Soapkills' Yasmine Hamdan joined efforts with Mirwais Ahmadzaï back in 2009. Can't wait!

Débruit & Alsarah - Alkoan Baladi ٩. الكون بلدي by Soundway Records

Tweet

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "VIRTUAL LOVER" - Nadia Ksaiba [+ Jimmy Edgar Remix] /// "GUEST LIST" - DENA

London residing Tunisian electro princess praised by the likes of Erol Alkan and Berlin-based Bulgarian answer to M.I.A. surely had to end up in one dancefloor action packed post here, right?

Nadia Ksaiba's "Virtual Lover" is a sneak peek into the artist's upcoming debut album balancing somewhere between Disco Classics, Minimal Wave, Synth Pop, Downtown New York Punk Funk and those life-affirming early Madonna singles as we read on Nadia's Facebook page. The single's out now on Phantasy and it includes another smashing remix from the unstoppable Jimmy Edgar.

DENA's "Guest List" mixes dancehall rhythms, subtle Oriental samples, Eastern European kitsch and clever productional tricks with her signature, slightly annoying way of rapping. I wasn't a fan of her sensationally viral "Cash, Diamond Rings, Swimming Pools" I must admit but I dig this one more and more. Two girls to keep an eye on in the upocoming months big time.

Tweet

SHREM'S TRIP-HOP RETROSPECTIVE: "KAZDOURA" - Soapkills

ARTIST: Soapkills
TITLE: "Kazdoura"
RELEASE DATE:  2002
LABEL: Self Released (Lebanese Underground)
LOCATION: Beirut, Lebanon
ALBUM: "Cheftak"

soapkills band ♥ kazdoura by Dr.3ezz

Tweet

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "GAMIL" - Y.A.S. /// "SAMAR" - Yasmine Hamdan

 The ethereal "Gamil" comes from "Arabology" my album of the year in 2009 which blossomed as a unique multi-cultural collaboration between Lebanese chanteuse Yasmine Hamdan (of Soapkills fame) and Paris based producer Mirwais Ahmadzaï (responsible for Madonna's "Music" album). This marriage of Oriental sounds and electronica all sung in Arabic (the most exquisite of all languages in my humble opinion) was an absolute sonic feast and couldn't possibly be any more "my cup of tea". Yasmine Hamdan continues her colourful career with her latest elaborate self-titled solo album which the enigmatic "Samar" is the third single from. The video for the song is a piece of art of its own league. Magnificent!

شكراً جزيلاً ناجي

Y.A.S. - Arabology - 09 - Gamil by le-pas-du-chat-noir

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Elhem - 1" - Diaspora feat. Amina Annabi

I have been grooving to this vibrant mélange of world beats for months last year and somehow never had a chance to share it with all of you here. It is a rare mixture of Egyptian and Jamaican sounds with a rather wondrous vocal performance from Tunisian legend Amina Annabi. You can find another 3 tracks featuring Miss Amina on Diaspora's "A Jamaican in Cairo" album via Green Queen Music. A burst of pure oriental beauty in a song.

   Diaspora (Feat Amina Annabi) Elhem-1 by greenqueenmusic

Tweet

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "I WANT HER BUT I DON'T WANT HER" - Zahed Sultan /// "CHEFTAK" - Soapkills

It's no news to any of you at this stage that I have a long term crush on Arab music. When it's mixed with electronica though, my other huge passion, well then it's just a dream combination. I have discovered this Kuwaiti dj Zahed Sultan only yesterday and instantly fell under his spell of truly magical mélange of dub, electronica and Oriental samples. As for Soapkills, currently a cult group in Lebanon, I've been a devoted follower of their unique sound for many years now. These two tracks together sound hmmmmm scrumptious...

GramaFoon.CoM - Soap Kills - Cheftak by Ammar Mahmoud

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "KALZOOM" - U-Cef feat. Amina Annabi + "Enta Omri" إنت عمري - Oum Kulthoum أم كلثوم‎

Let me serve you a truly delicious Arabic music feast. One of the biggest musical legends of Arab Music and the mother of Egyptian classical song Oum Kulthoum and her eponymous (one hour long in total!!!) "Enta Omri" (I'm presenting you part 2 & 3 of the epic performance) and a very modern take on the classic by a Moroccan Dj U-Cef featuring one of my most beloved vocalists of the Orient, Tunisian pop star Amina Annabi. Mesmerising!

U-Cef feat. Amina Annabi "Kalzoom" by SHREM

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "CAIRO CAIRO" - Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra feat. Natacha Atlas + "Taalet" - Natacha Atlas

A hypnotising piece of world funk by Shawn Lee featuring the legendary Natacha Atlas. As a bonus there's a juicy remix of Miss Atlas' "Taalet (Zab Spencer Remix)" which is my number one pick from her latest record "Mounqaliba".

Shawn Lee (feat. Natacha Atlas) - "Cairo Cairo" by Ubiquity Records

Natacha Atlas - Taalet - Zab Spencer Remix by Zab Spencer Music

Tweet

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "Tango el Amal" - Nour Al Houda - نور الهدى - تانجو الأمل /// "Tango" - Soapkills

Lebanese singer and actress Nour al-Houda, recorded more than 100 songs during a career that spanned more than 60 years. I couldn't find the info on the time of the release of this rare piece of Arabic tango but I'm guessing it goes as back as late 1940's. The second track is the absolutely phenomenal and enigmatic rendition of the song by Lebanese Underground's finest duo Yasmine Hamdan and Zeid Hamdan vel Soapkills. They used samples of the legendary Mohamed Abdelwahab too. What a feast for Orient loving ears like mine :-)

Tweet

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "EYE OF THE DUCK" - Natacha Atlas feat. Princess Julianna /// "BULGARIAN CHICKS" - Balkan Beat Box

Two of the tracks I particularly enjoyed playing @ Twisted Pepper, Dublin for The Goulash Disko Balkan Blowout party! Thank you everyone for an amazing atmosphere, all the belly dancing, singing along and all the smiley faces. Such a phenomenal response! A dream gig to play!

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "YA RAYAH يا الرايح" - Dahmane El Harrachi دحمان الحرّاشي

One of the most cult Arabic songs in the history "Ya Rayah" was initially released by the Algerian chaabi singer Dahmane El Harrachi back in the 1970's. It's been much loved and re-interpreted all over the globe since. Here's the enchanting original recording that always gives me goosebumps. Timeless!



2 DAHMANE EL HARRACHI - Ya Rayah by Chaâbi

Tweet

SHREM'S 50 WOMEN OF HIS LIFE: 27 - Yasmine Hamdan

27 - Yasmine Hamdan
BANDS: Soapkills, Y.A.S.
COUNTRY: Lebanon
MY FAVOURITE ALBUM: "Arabology" by Y.A.S.
TOP 10 FAVOURITE SONGS:
10- "Herzan" - Soapkills
09- "Ara Salmou" - Soapkills
08- "Ma Rida" - Y.A.S.
07- "Get It Right" - Y.A.S.
06- "Enta Fen" - Soapkills
05- "Yaspop" - Y.A.S.
04- "Wahch" - Soapkills
03- "A Man" - Y.A.S.
02- "Gamil" - Y.A.S.
01- "Tango" - Soapkills



Cheftak - Soapkills by asoum abdallah

DISCOGS

Tweet

SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS PRESENTS... YALLA CHANT - Natacha Atlas نتاشا أطلس

15 years ago I have come across this unbelievable vocalist for the very first time... Since then I have been a devoted admirer, collector and connoisseur of Natacha Atlas... Just around the release of her long anticipated 9th studio album - "Mounqaliba" I thought it was very fitting to remind myself and all of you of how it all started...

Tweet

CHOON OF THE DAY: GENERAL SULEIMAN - Zeid Hamdan (زيد حمدان) & The Wings

Today I give you ½ of the cult Lebanese duo - Soapkills, Zeid Hamdan and his new project. Completely different vibe. Such a wonderful video, really makes me wanna visit Beirut soon. Warning: highly addictive song! Enjoy...

Tweet

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS

Just thought of a brand new thread 2 please your ever hungry ears;-) In this series I shall be presenting u with some musical treasures coming from all corners of the world... So here's 2 start a little something all the way from Maghreb:



ARTIST: AMINA ANNABI
TITLE: "Belly Dance"
RELEASE DATE: 1989
COUNTRY: Tunisia

Tweet