Search - Souad Massi :: Deb (Heartbroken)

San Francisco Chronicle

07/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the early 1990s, Algeria had become a desperate country. Killings and disappearances, sparked by the military government's "dirty war" with Islamists, instilled fear everywhere, including its capital, Algiers, where Souad Massi was trying to establish herself as a singer, songwriter and guitarist.
Even walking the streets with her guitar case was a challenge in a country where fundamentalists frowned upon anything they deemed too Western. A low point came in 1997 when Massi -- by then, playing in a hard-rock band called Atakor -- received anonymous death threats. By 1998, she had essentially given up performing.
"Being a woman in such an environment and choosing to pursue such a career wasn't regarded as a good thing at the time," Massi said in a phone interview from Paris. "Now that I have experienced success, I'm happy."
Massi's success has been one of world music's most riveting stories. After moving to Paris five years ago, she recorded "Raoui," an album that sold more than 100,000 copies. Her latest release, "Deb (Heart Broken)," which received airplay on many U.S. stations -- and her current American tour, which brings her to San Francisco on Sunday -- are further indications that Massi has established an international audience for her music, which critics have compared to Tracy Chapman's, Joni Mitchell's and Joan Baez's.
The truth is that Massi is a musical chameleon. On a recent single she did with Senegalese singer Ismael Lo, a stunning remake of Bernard Lavilliers' "Black and White," she sounds like a pop diva. With other musicians, she'll emphasize a more Arabic sound that's driven by oud (lute) and derbouka (drum). But then, she'll play with Indian tabla players, or she'll do an acoustic number where she slips into being "an Arabic folkie," as some people have called her.
Just by appearing on stage, Massi defies the prevailing image of Algeria, a Muslim country that has experienced relative political calm in the past few years. With her good looks, playful demeanor and low-key yet fashionable dress -- not to mention her outspoken lyrics about love and romance -- Massi evokes a certain rebelliousness and cosmopolitism. At age 31, Massi, who sings in French and Arabic, is really just starting her professional career.
"I never thought I'd go this far," she said in words that are translated into English from French.
Perhaps the strangest aspect of Massi's musical biography is her affinity for Kenny Rogers and other country stars who were popular in the 1970s and '80s. Massi first began listening to country and folk music after she became fascinated with Western movies such as "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Massi's siblings made fun of her tastes, but Massi has said her youthful interests stemmed from a desire to be a tomboy in a country that doesn't value women.
"I was scared to really be a woman because the status of women in Algeria frightened me," she told the publication fRoots. "Ever since I was young, I saw that women weren't valued, so I said to myself, 'I'll become a boy and save myself from all these problems.' So I loved Westerns."
Massi's life changed completely in 1999, when a French Algerian promoter invited her to perform at a "Women of Algeria" concert in Paris. The acclaim and positive reaction she received at that January concert were so moving that she decided to stay in France. Massi returns to Algeria on occasion, but she hasn't performed there since leaving Algiers. In previous years, Massi said it wouldn't be right to play in a country that was still experiencing scores of slayings. But now that Algeria is no longer the "living hell" that Massi said it was, she's looking forward to doing a concert there.
Though Massi's songs are often about love and relationships, some can be interpreted as commentaries about her native land. "Houria (Freedom)," a Flamenco-tinged lament on her album "Deb," features such lines as "I'm afraid of the future" and "Outside it's summer. And people sing their happiness. Here the fall follows me." Massi practically bursts into tears on the number, and yet on "Yawlidi (My Little Boy)," which is also on "Deb," Massi laughs infectiously as she orchestrates a hypnotic (and happy) dance tune that sounds like a Congolese rumba.
That's what Massi's fans really like about her. She puts all her feelings into her music, unafraid to show just one side of herself or to reach out to seemingly strange musical genres. Massi is Amazigh (more commonly known as Berber) and Muslim, but she defies classification.
"My music comes from different horizons," said Massi, who was first inspired to pick up a guitar because of an uncle who played jazz and flamenco. "I wouldn't like only to be doing one sort of thing, or having one sort of influence in my music.""

Lovely voice, compositions and arrangements.

D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 08/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't generally peruse records from the "World" section. I just happened to try out this record on a whim at a listening station, without knowing what genre or even language Souad Massi is singing in. But the beauty of the music is simply transporting, and I knew this was a record I had to have.



Massi's voice is simply perfection, clear and resilient, the kind of voice that can grab your attention instantly when you hear it. Massi's songwriting is also great, with agile melodies, satisfying builds, and evocative soundscapes. "Yemma [Mummy, I Lie to You]" has the kind of innocent wonder its title implies; "Ghir enta [I Only Love You]" is sensual and mantric, like a cinematic dance of seduction; "Yawlidi" shows a more upbeat side to Massi's musical persona, with its infectious beat and chorused voices, and the multilingual "Le bien et le mal [Good and Evil]" shows how to build a great song just from very basic chords.



The only thing I'm missing is the meaning of the lyrics. But the music and the voice speak loud and clear. Just about the best musical discovery I've made this year.

"

Beautiful and truly in a class by itself....

D. Pawl | Seattle | 09/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I, too, like the writer before me, first heard this album while at a listening station at my local Borders Books and Music Store. Souad Massi's beautiful, haunting and expressive vocals grabbed hold of my heart with arresting intensity and clarity. This woman has the talent as a guitarist and vocalist to carry the album with strength and grace.



My favorite cuts, by far, are "Deb," (the title track) and "Ya Kelbi" (Oh! My Heart). I say this because those in particular are the ones I played most frequently while I was in the music store. The beautiful Algerian tones on the guitar, the poetry in the lyrics (yes, they are translated from the Arabic and the French in the liner notes) and the seductive percussion are addictive! I would listen to this over Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez or Beyonce any day! She is truly unique.



What else can I say? There is something on this CD for everyone. Souad samples music from all over the world in her sound. The song "Ech Edani" has lines in Spanish, "Yawlidi" has a high life sound, Horn of Africa sound and the flavors go on and on. I hope people from all generations listen to this. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning about and appreciating music from other parts of the world. It is truly eye opening and refreshing. Thank you for sharing your gift with us, Souad!"