Radio Beirut

Radio Beirut: Sounds from the 21st Century
Galileo Music Communication GmbH / IODA (2012)
ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN Reviewed by Abu Ramses

A sampler of hits of the last decade on the Beirut radio waves. A cosmopolitan mix of sounds: the very au courant Gay boy band Mashrou‘ Leila (Leila Project – 1, 6, 14); the more folky Ziyad Sahhab (10); the classically trained Tania Saleh (4) and Soumaya Baalbaki (8); acoustic ballads by Sima and Youmna Saba (9, 11, 16). Something for everyone to like (and dislike).

Try 1, 6, 8, 10, 11

Tracks
1. Raksit Leila (Leila’s dance) by Mashrou' Leila – Swingy up-tempo with Latin accents-4:14
2. Debbik Debbik by Chehade Brothers – A typical (perhaps stereotypical and self-mocking) mix of Oriental rhythms and melodies - 4:06
3. Herzan by Soapkills – a childish under-dubbed voice in mid-tempo vamp - 3:22
4. Hsebak by Tania Saleh – Mature mezzo-soprano & flamenco-ish guitar-3:26
5. Post War Passion- Sima Itayim In English, -2:43
6. Fasateen (Dresses) by Mashrou' Leila – Mid-tempo acoustic guitar; solo vocal, gradually becoming more complex with violin, piano, chorus, etc - 3:05
7. Rahou (They left) by Hanine y Son Cubano – As you would expect, a Latin style, bossa nova, vocal in Arabic backed by a full band- 4:12
8. Ya Ashikata Al Wardi (Lovers of the roses) by Soumaya Baalbaki – A slow Andalusian-style song sung in classical Arabic - 4:30
9. Stale Coffee by Sima (Itayim) – In English, mid-tempo, American folk-roots style ballad with acoustic guitar - 2:36
10. Keep On Singing by Ziyad Sahhab Upbeat duet with Yasmina Fayed; paean to Lebanon, which “keeps on keepin on” - 2:42
11. El Hitan (Walls) by Youmna Saba – an acoustic ballad, nicw guitar solo on bridge - 3:00
12. Ahwak (I love you) by Zeid Hamdan / Hiba Mansouri – Slow female vocal with minimalist accompaniment - 3:15
13. General Suleiman by Zeid and the Wings – Mid-tempo, girl chorus, plea for peace after 2008 fighting Hezbollah between & rival political factions; General Suleiman became president in a deal that ended the clashes: in English - 3:12
14. Oubwa by Mashrou' Leila - Weird mash-up of Oriental and other sounds - 3:31
15. All of My Life by The New Government – 60s-70s soft rock sound; instrumental vamp - 3:55
16. El Hal (The solution) by Youmna Saba – Slow, acoustic, solo ballad - 3:27
17. Bullets Gently Flying Over My Head by The Incompetents – Slow, rather amateurish sound, skip it - 2:20