Although the music of North Africa and the Middle East has been thoroughly covered elsewhere, this compilation nonetheless offers a wealth of fresh pleasures and insights. The artists are all major figures in their respective markets. If the tunes sometimes lapse into garish electronica, this is perfectly authentic and all of them are redolent of their ancient origins in one way or another. In any case, there are enough acoustic lutes, frame drums, woodwinds, and fiddles on hand to mollify die-hard roots fans. Morocco is represented by an example of Sha'bi, a blues-like sound much favored by the working class, but also harbors various types of stately Arabe-Andalous orchestras hearkening back to pre-reconquista Granada. Amr Diab, a pouty-lipped Egyptian teenybopper idol, rubs elbows here with Tunisian pop star Faouzi Ben Guamra. Gnawa trance musicians hold sway in Algeria, but Chaba Zahouania is a latter-day female exponent of the famously rebellious rai style. Setona from the Sudan is a busy wedding planner when she isn't grooving with a microphone. Many of the lyrics prove that despite poverty, political strife, and killjoy religious fundamentalists, romance reigns supreme. This reminder of our shared human nature is especially important in the face of the West's compulsive and impartial demonizing of Muslims. It was an act of foolhardy courage to release this set after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, but Trevor Herman of Earthworks has always had plenty of that. As usual, his ears and his heart are right where they ought to be. ~ Christina Roden, All Music Guide
