The label WeWantSounds opens our eyes once again to the repertoire of the Arabic music world. Warda (1940-2012) is one of the divas of oriental orchestral groove. Her album »Khalik Hena« was recorded in Egypt in 1973 and is now being reissued for the first time since. The recordings bear an unusually open sound, as the entire album was recorded in front of an audience. In the midst of the compositions, Warda’s vocals emerge and almost silence the music; one listens intently to her voice and without expecting it, one is led out of the dabke rhythm to experience melody and song as the center of the songs. The special mixture of electrified instruments (electric guitar/organ), which bring a slight psychedelic character, and traditional string compositions by Baligh Hamdi form the foundation for the singer’s graceful singing voice. Warda, who was born in France as the daughter of Algerian-Lebanese parents and originally came from cabaret, is no longer an unknown quantity in the »sample-based« hip-hop scene. For example, J Dilla and Jay-Z already helped themselves to her songs. Despite her almost four-year artist break due to being a wife between 1967 and 1971, Warda managed to conquer the Arab world stages again. Therefore, the album »Khalik Hena« is considered by connoisseurs as an important work of her second creative phase.
Khalik Hena
