CD Review: Hoda - Sha'bi Chic

What a great, fun album. I've been on the lookout for more great Sha'abi (I love both Saad and Hakim, but there's so much more out there!)

It was released on the Copeland International Arts label (i.e. the Bellydance Superstars label) who also released Saad’s The Prince of Sha’abi. It struck me as a little funny that the label has not settled on a common English transliteration of the word “sha’abi”. Unfortunately, this CD is not as technically well recorded or mixed as Saad’s. It sounds fine on it’s own, but when you compare the two, Sha’bi Chic sounds like the mix is muddier. That comparison makes me wonder if these albums are new recordings or if they are US releases of albums previously released in Egypt. Or even if they are “Greatest Hits” – type compilations of songs off of multiple prior albums released in Egypt.

From a dancing perspective, this whole album has very prominent rhythms, and is a lot of fun to dance to. There's a lot of tracks based on the saiidi rhythm, so there's a number of options if you're looking for a modern cane piece. I don't know what the difference is, but I've read that there are stylistic differences between "sha'abi cane" and "baladi cane" - so that might be one thing to be careful of. Every track, however, is totally danceable if you just need a fun sha'abi song to rock out to, or use for audience participation.

As always, here are the details:

1. Endahly Had Kbeer – 4:20 – This track is built largely of electronic instruments, but they retain a flavor of traditional instruments. Especially a little bit of reediness that suggests a mizmar
2. Ashoufak Uyoum – 3:40 - It’s got a great beat, I can really dance to it. Seriously, it’s got a great, steady beat. The rhythmic structure is not complex, but it is even and easy to follow, I think it would be great for a group dance.
3. El Kalam Mish Kalamek – 3:10 - This track has a very cute intro, and is a solid saiidi rhythm. It would make a really cute modern cane dance.
4. Ekhwat Banat – 4:09 - This is one of the more electronic tracks on the album, including some distortion on Hoda’s vocal track. The rhythm is actually very fast, though the vocals feel quite a bit slower.
5. Inta Lissa Faker Bali – 4:55 - Mercifully, this is *not* a remix of Lisaa Fakir. It’s actually a cute, drummy song. Unfortunately it ends with a long fade.
6. Kaf Hawak – 4:14 - This track starts with a slow, pretty intro for about 40 seconds then picks up the pace. I would like this track for a hafla or workshop show where I was only dancing to one song, since the intro allows for a very short veil entrance, but the song itself is fast-paced and easy to clap to. Unfortunately it also ends with a fade.
7. Aashek – 4:03 - Ok, the weird synthesizer effects are a little dated, but the song has cute little rhythmic interludes that would let you vary the pace of your dancing.
8. Maa’Lesh – 4:04 - I don’t usually like suynth-y mizmar-ish sounds, but this song uses them to good effect. The song is based on a solid saiidi rhythm, and is a little slower and longer than El Kalam Mish Kalamek, making it another good choice for a cane piece.
9. Yallah Kheir – 5:17 - This track has a great intro. It opens with a couple of measures of slow, clear baladi that gets the audience’s attention right off the bat. The rest of the song is a great fast maksoum, with great emotional vocals, and little instrumental sections.
10. La Ou Lissa – 4:46 - This is a pleasant pop song, it has these funny very low-pitched male background vocals. Ends rather abruptly, but could be used for a pose if you’re quick.