After exile from her Algerian homeland (her crime: being a political singer), Souad Massi enjoyed international success with her early solo albums, Raoui (2001) and Deb (2003). A poetic singer-songwriter in the western mould, Massi was further influenced by Arabic and French sounds. Her charm has never vanished, but later albums have underwhelmed. She is in outstanding form here, with strong songs that recall her early work and a gifted producer, Justin Adams – guitar lieutenant in Robert Plant’s band – to bring them into varied life.
Opener Dessine-moi un pays (Draw Me a Country) is steeped in north African influences, with a swaying string quartet, but later comes chanson, rock, bossa nova, American folk, all with a fluid backdrop of chiming, chattering guitars from Adams. Massi herself is in troubled but stoical mood. The title cut expresses anguish for the plight of today’s adolescents, imploring the Seine’s goddess to help them. The pain of broken romance runs deep on Ciao Bello and Ch’Ta, but in L’Espoir, hope springs eternal. Mirage is a Saharan trance about exile – “my wounds will never heal” – that finds redemption on a duet with guest Piers Faccini. Massi’s Arabic version of Trent Reznor’s Hurt aches more than the song deserves.
