Zaman

This is a pleasant album by Oumeima (sometimes spelled Omeima) and follows her previous critically acclaimed album ‘Ya’ which got a lot of airplay on KZSU. Oumeima’s voice is still there, clear as a bell, but this CD seems more traditional than experimental.
Tracks 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 are in Levantine dialect. Tracks 4, 5, 6, 9 are in Classical Arabic.
All tracks are FCC clean.

**1 Tabaa El Wosta 4:05 [The Middle Class] Best track on the album, mid tempo, satirical lyrics and commentary on class systems.
2 Niyalak 3:05 [Good for You] Slow ballad expressing the aloofness of the beloved.
3 Rasayel 4:11 [Letters] Sad song about loss of love and loss of one’s homeland.
4 Thilalouna 3:42 [Our Hills]. Classical Arabic poem/lyrics about Egypt
5 Hatha 5:31 Somewhat faster beat than most tracks; classical Arabic lyrics.
**6 Fi Akher Al Ashyaa 4:49 [The End of All Things] Mellow, soft melody and soothing, sad vocals. Classical Arabic.
7 Leh (Revisited) 3:51 [Why] This track was originally released on Oumeima’s previous album and here has been revamped and slowed down. Lebanese dialect.
8 Bint W Sabi 5:50 [A Girl and a Boy] Pleasant, mellow ballad in Lebanese dialect.
9 Arifou Biladan 4:41 [I Know Countries] A ballad that borders on a hymn. Picks up in middle with electric guitar which is startling. Classical Arabic.
**My faves: 1 and 6 (Ramzi Salti)