Wust El Balad

Wust El Balad, “Wust El Balad” (Melody Music, 2007)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN

Debut album of Wust El Balad (downtown) - the hottest act on the Cairo (Egypt) club scene since the band was founded in 1999. A fusion of soft rock/Latin/Middle Eastern. Their tight harmonies are unusual in Arab music. Lyrics address social themes, not just the usual “habibi” love songs of contemporary Arab pop. Success, as usual, means they have moved away from being an indie group towards the mainstream. Band founders: Hany Adel (guitar and vocals), Ahmed Omran (oud and flute). Others: Adham El Saeid, Ahmed Omar, Asaad Nessim, Ehab Abdel Hameed (Bob), Mohammed Gamal Al Din (Mizo).

Tracks

***1. “Come closer” – semi a capella intro, syncopated beat – 4:19
***2. “Downtown” – “La Cucaracha” spoof. A fan favorite; often closes their live performances – 4:24
***3. “Sun of the Day” – upbeat, klezmer style with sax solo. Lyrics about singer’s soon-to-be-acquired freedom. – 3:27
4. “Antique” – Slow, mostly solo vocal with pedal steels (?) backup - 5:19
5. “Possibly” – slow, mostly solo vocal, my least fave of the album - 3:52
6. “Hela Hop” – nice solo guitar intro, a silly song – 3:07
**7. “Uncle Mina” – Lyrics promote Muslim-Christian coexistence. Good theme after New Year’s Day 2011 Alexandria church bombing. First words of the song “Lissa fakir” (I still remember) recall an Umm Kulsum song – 4:05
8. “Crazy” – Lyrics are about globalization and being "crazy in love" with human beings - 4:34
9. “Speak” – mid-tempo, nice harmonies – 4:22
****10. “Tell the Maiden” – Intro = electric guitar & oud play the theme, then classical guitar solo, oud solo, rock guitar solo. Then the vocal – a harmonized recitation of a medieval poem warning a woman not to distract a sufi from his prayers. Wild stuff – 5:34