Hakim is an Egyptian singer specializing in what’s called sha’bi music, which is a fast, street-based Egyptian pop style. Most of the songs deal with typical pop fare (i.e. love) and though Arabic music is frequently melodramatic, none of these tracks are saccharine. There are frequent attempts to tweak with Hakim’s style by bringing in Western musical elements (mostly electronic synths and audio effects). Sometimes it’s successful and sometimes it’s not. My only complaint is that I felt that most of the fusion tracks sacrifice too much of the Middle Eastern element and end up sounding like European dance tunes. The tracks that maintain a distinct Egyptian feel are the most satisfying.
1. “El Salam Alaykoum” is an Arabic greeting and this track is straightforward Egyptian pop that introduces the album.
2. Duet between Hakim and Puerto Rican singer Olga Tanon. The music itself is definitely not Middle Eastern, but not quite Latin either. Drum loops with bass pulses laid over. Interesting, even if there doesn’t seem to be much chemistry between the singers. It sounds almost like the vocals were recorded completely separately and edited together. Not exactly Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell.
3. Medium-paced traditional Egyptian pop with violins, different percussion, accordions, and a slight bass thump.
4. Electric guitar and keyboard-based tune. It’s more of a ballad than most of his stuff, but it’s not really slow like a traditional ballad.
5. The first minute is Hakim’s unaccompanied vocals with a slight echo effect. It then segues into a more familiar pop sound. Laid-back as far as Hakim’s music generally goes. Particularly expressive vocals here.
6. Hakim backed by a very deep-sounding chorus and slight instrumentation. A couple of minutes in, it develops a more upbeat background.
7. Another love song, but this time really upbeat. Wouldn’t be out of place in a Lebanese night club. Twinkly-sounding keyboard and synth background with quick percussion. Nonetheless, it sounds a bit understated, not like cheezy club fare.
8. The title means “little telephone,” and the track starts off with some phone noises over the music. Given the title, the lyrics are, as you’d expect, about missing someone and waiting for a call from him or her.
9. Starts of really slow and then becomes a synthed-out dance tune with warbling electronic pulses over fast drums.
10. Pretty normal Egyptian pop music.
11. Violin-based song with bass thrown in. This track does the most convincing job, in my opinion, of mixing Western musical elements into Egyptian music without really sacrificing either.
12. Kinda neat, but also odd. Arabic-English funk duet.