Mathlouthi, Emel / Kelmti Horra
Album: Kelmti Horra   Collection:World
Artist:Mathlouthi, Emel   Added:Jan 2012
Label:World Village  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2012-02-05 Pull Date: 2012-04-08 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Apr 8 Apr 1 Mar 25 Mar 18 Mar 11 Mar 4 Feb 26 Feb 19
Airplays: 1 1 1 2 1 3 3 2

Recent Airplay
1. Sep 27, 2016: DJ YJ's Cultural Tidbits: Balkan Special
Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)
4. Jun 13, 2013: Arabology
Ma Lkit (Not Found)
2. Sep 22, 2016: Galactic Travel Playlists
Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)
5. Jan 31, 2013: Arabology
Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)
3. Mar 03, 2015: Arabology
Dhalem (Tyrant)
6. Jan 24, 2013: Arabology
Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)

Album Review
Ramzi Salti
Reviewed 2012-01-31
Emel Mathlouthi Kelmti Horra 2012
-- All Tracks are FCC CLEAN --
Emel Mathlouthi is a young Tunisian singer, songwriter, composer and guitarist whose songs often address freedom. She sounds like a blend between Joan Baez, Sister Marie Keyrouz, and the Lebanese diva Fairuz. . On this album, titled “Kelmti Horra” (My Word Is Free), she has recorded many songs in Arabic, French and English addressing themes of freedom that seem undeniably influenced by the Tunisian uprising. The last 3 tracks on this CD are only available on this special issue.

1. Houdou’on (Calm) Chant in Arabic followed by drum beats, dreamy vocals 5:31
**2. “Ma Lkit” (Not Found). Strong vocals crying out about life’s obstacles and the rarity of friends. Starts slow then builds up to symphonic level with drums. 3:58
**3. “Dhalem” (Tyrant) Starts out like a lullaby then almost operatic vocals in classical Arabic. Nice harp sound 3:55
4. “Stranger” Sung in English. Oriental beat set to whispery dreamy back vocals.4:12
5. “Ya Tounes Ya Meskina” (Poor Tunis). A lamentation. A sad song for Tunisia set to seemingly patriotic beats.4:47
6. “Ethnia Twila” (The Road Is Long). Sung in Arabic and set to an interesting beat that fuses eastern and western sounds and rhythms. 8:24
**7. “Kelmti Horra” (My Word Is Free) The title track shows off Emel’s strong vocals, almost operatic in nature, singing with heartfelt passion about freedom. 6:30
8. “Dfina” (Burial). Haunting vocals, sad rhythm with strong guitar sound.6:23
9. “Hinama” (When) Sung in classical Arabic. Sounds like poetry set to music. Slow with many intentional pauses.5:28
10.“Yezzi” (Enough) Classical Arabic, about the Tunisian uprising. Freedom is in the streets.7:15
11.“A L’Infini” (Infinity) Sung in French, melancholic song, about a tortured soul.4:09
12. “Liberta” (Freedom) Mixes Arabic with different languages, haunting song, sounds like a chant. 4:56
13. “14 Janvier”. Commemorates the date in 2011 when the President of Tunisia fled 3:37


My picks: 2, 3, & 7 Ramzi Salti

Track Listing
1. Houdou'on (Calm)   8. Dfina (Burrial)
2. Ma Lkit (Not Found)   9. Hinama (When)
3. Dhalem (Tyrant)   10. Yezzi (Enough)
4. Stranger   11. A L'infini (Bonus Track)
5. Ya Tounes Ya Meskina (Poor Tunisia)   12. Liberta (Bonus Track)
6. Ethnia Twila (The Road Is Long)   13. 14 Janvier (Bonus Track)
7. Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)   .