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.
I am delighted to present you with a brand new exclusive playlist by the amazing Yasmine Hamdan, one of the most cherished singers of the Arab world. This vibrant selection is a sonic journey through some nu wave evergreens and hidden gems we wouldn't perhaps ever discover otherwise. It brings me great happiness to have you as a guest appearing on my carousel Miss Hamdan as I've been worshipping your unique songs with Soapkills and Y.A.S. as well as your solo recordings for many years at this stage. BIO:
Yasmine Hamdan is considered as an undergound icon throughout the Arab world ever since Soapkills, the emblematic duo she founded in Beyrouth, which must have been the first indie/electronic band to appear in the Middle East, and whose music had become the soundtrack to the vibrant, young arts scene which developed in postwar Lebanon.
After moving to Paris, Yasmine wrote and recorded the "Arabology" album with musician/producer Mirwais (of Madonna fame), under the Y.A.S. moniker, and also collaborated with CocoRosie for a while.
Yasmine Hamdan then joined forces with Marc Collin (Nouvelle Vague) to write and produce her first solo album, which is coming out internationally (in a revised version with five new tracks) in 2013 on Crammed Discs, under the title "Ya Nass".
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!
The hypnotising "A MAN" comes from one of the most underrated albums of the past few years - "Arabology" which was my album of the year in 2009. The album was a fascinating mélange of extraordinary talents between electronica virtuoso Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Lebanese Underground princess Yasmine Hamdan, one half of the enigmatic duo Soapkills. The song uses a sample from one of Kraftwerk's most famous tracks "The Man Machine". Such a clever fresh idea, a completely new fantastic tune built around a well-known sample. And Yasmine gives a jewel of a vocal performance.
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...
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 :-)
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