Most of
Cheikha Rimitti's albums have framed her voice with only throbbing Algerian hand percussion and the breathy, wooden tones of the ney flute, but
Nouar expands and adorns the godmother of rai's traditional, spare arrangements in low-key ways. Tasteful keyboards supply melodies and muted solos, the bass foundations are simple but firm, occasional accordion and an acoustic guitar add different colors. Melismatic wails spice "Saida" and three songs feature the tart, melancholy trumpet of Bellemou Messaoud. While
Nouar doesn't have the pop flair of
Khaled, the rock moves of
Rachid Taha, dance grooves, or big-bang climaxes, it does have the indomitable vocal presence of
Cheikha Rimitti. It's the authoritative voice of a female elder who projects total command and strength, conveying a message of "no apologies needed for who I am or what I want" that crosses any language barrier. ~ Don Snowden