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.
70 - UNA MÚSICA BRUTAL - Gotan Project - timeless track from this perhaps slightly overplayed tango-reinventing collective
69 - FRANK SINATRA 2001 - Miss Kittin & The Hacker - the decade's most brazen lyrics and underground club scene's cult tune, no ifs ands or buts about it;-)
68 - GAMIL - Y.A.S. - between Y.A.S. and Soapkills, Yasmine Hamdan's sensual vocals grace not any less than 4 songs in my top 200, ARABOLOGY was without any doubts my favourite album of last year
64 - DECLARE INDEPENDENCE - Björk - musical artistry, inventiveness, creativity and unclassifiable sounds - they are all Miss Guðmundsdóttir's synonyms. Here's one of her most radical (both musically and lyrically) achievements 2 date, particularly moving with all the Tibetan flags in the audience of Parisian Olympia... Extraordinaire:
63 - PRENZLAUERBERG - Beirut - stunning and emotional interpretation of Balkan Folk from Beirut's breathtaking debut GULAG ORKESTAR, apparently majority of its material was recorded in the musician's bedroom, piece of art...
62 - CRUEL INTENTIONS - Simian Mobile Disco Feat. Beth Ditto - it was love at first listen...
61 - BAMBOO BANGA - M.I.A. - magnificent mash up of Indian Tamil movie sondtrack samples and dancehall, KALA's opening track, a sonic feast 4 Orientophiles like me:-)
10- SCARS - Basement Jaxx Feat. Kelis, Meleka & Chipmunk - the title track from their latest album, one of their most accomplished productions to date
09- CROSS THE DANCEFLOOR (CHROMEO REMIX) - Treasure Fingers - while waiting to hear some more of those irresistable "future 80's" anthems from the Canadian duo, try this rather danceable number, it's as good as FANCY FOOTWORK I promise!
08- CHANSON D'AMOUR - Catherine Ferroyer-Blanchard - from her cassette (!!!) single out only in France, the only electro single I have fallen in love with last year plus my video of the year award goes to her too, J'adorrrrrre:
07- SPLITTING THE ATOM - Massive Attack - their most intricate and intriguing work since Mezzanine days...
06- MAXIMUS - Beni Feat. Sam Sparro - even better than BLACK & GOLD, a proper piece of dancefloor anthem that never was...
05- FEELINGS HAVE CHANGED - The New Sins - treasure of a song discovered by my friend Jaysin by 1/5th of New Young Pony Club & her side project, delicious & haunting
04- THE MUZIK - Ebony Bones - The M.I.A. of 2009, punk & disco never sounded more appealing 2gether, and while u're @ it try Yuksek Brondinski's phenomenal remix too
03- MOONLIGHT DANCE - Sally Shapiro - the cutest fragment of her sweet guilty pleasures...
02- MOSES - Elizabeth Fraser - the most anticipated come back in my personal books, the owner of England's most angelic of all voices and a masterpiece of a song blending sonic spices from all different directions to an impressive musical collage
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01- GET IT RIGHT - Y.A.S. - produced by the scarily talented Monsieur Mirwais Ahmadzaï and sung by Lebanese underground diva Yasmine Hamdan it's as catchy as it gets, loved instantly by all my friends whom I've been feeding with it on regular basis the past 4 months... Video by Stephane Sednaoui partly shot in my favourite tea house in Cairo...
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