Berberism

Frankly, it's kind of hard, on a cursory listen, to distinguish this mix of Moroccan and Western elements from similar material that's been issued by other acts on the Barbarity label (including Aisha Kandisha's Jarring Effects, Ahlam, and Amira Saqati). Except, maybe, that this is on the whole blander. The traditional elements—the wailing vocals and the string instruments—hold a lot more interest than the routine electronic rhythms. That might be an unduly sour condemnation given that this sort of music is still in and of itself rather experimental within the Moroccan scene. But when you enter the international music community, you've also got to take into account that the standards become that much tougher. As pop-influenced world music goes, this simply isn't a standout.