Al-Rawa'i (Greatest Hits)

Rim Banna, “al-Rawa’i‘/Greatest Songs” (Laser, 2011)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN

Palestinian-Israeli singer-songwriter. A mezzo-soprano known for her modern interpretations of Palestinian folk songs and cultural nationalism. Born in Nazareth; graduated from Nazareth Baptist School (1984). Studied at High Institute for Music in Moscow, where she met her Ukrainian husband, composer-arranger Leonid Alexeienko. They live in Nazareth. This is her 4th CD. All tracks feature solo singing by Banna backed by a modern ensemble: electric guitar and bass and drum kit. Tracks 1, 2, 13 are preceded by an annoying announcement that it’s an original recording on the Laser label (from Hebron, occupied West Bank). On 15 it’s in the middle of the song!

Try 1, 5, 6, 9, 13, 16

Tracks

1. Lah al-qamr (Shine, moon, shine) – hard driving, nationalist lyrics - 4:03
2. Karmal al-ruh (Wind of the Carmel) - slow, lyrical, solo wood flute (nay)- 4:34
3. Tartilat bahr (Hymn of the Sea) – mid- to up-tempo, new agey - 4:34
4. Sitti al-‘arja (My lame grandmother or Grandma with a limp) – upbeat, rock elements – 3:49
5. Ams al-masa' (Yesterday evening) – slow, lounge ballad- 4:04
6. Miraya al-ruh (Mirrors of my soul) – slow love ballad, with a Norwegian quintet featuring Western pop styling & Arabic musical structures - 5:01
7. Ma lik (What's with you?) – jazz-style, full instrumentation - 6:41
8 Ghilalat al-ruh (Cape of the wind) – up-tempo, soft rock with bit of country twang - 4:19
9. Mawasim al-banafsaj (Seasons of the violet) – slow, sweet, love ballad, minimal instrumentation - 4:22
10. Ya Jammal (Oh caravan leader) - slow, eerie, mourning for departure of a camel caravan leader- 4:37
11. Mash‘al (Torch) – march tempo nationalist anthem- 4:51
12. Sarah – slow ballad about a young girl shot by the Israeli army - 5:11
13. Ras al-jabal (The mountain top) – upbeat, guitar intro, mystical sound - 5:19
14. Faris 'Awde – slow ballad about the death of a martyr - 5:53
15. al-Sawt wa'l-ra'iha wa'l-shakl (The voice, the smell, and the form) slow ballad to the land: The thorns of the storm are in my path. And the call of the land is victorious in my veins. I am coming back, so keep my voice, my scent, and my form for me – 4:09
16. Bika' Warda (Warda's Cry) – mid-tempo, begins with blues style chord run under the voice and opening to bigger rock-style instrumentation, wailing guitar solo -5:52