For this, my final installment (for now) in my crusade to get people to know my favorite female vocalist, I bring to you the latest album by the singer Noa (or as I know her, Achinoam Nini) - Now!
Whereas, I previously thought that her previous album (Blue Touches Blue) was a step in a different ... Read review
Advantages: The mixture of genres, her voice, Gil Dor's arrangements Disadvantages: There's one track that's only OK and one that isn't totally great, but that's all.
...becomes cooler and sweet / now // I get up seven times just to cover his feet / now // there is pain but I've packed it away for next year / now // there is newness and grace // and for now, there's no fear" and you'll see what I mean. There's a look at a child what that means and all its innocence. And as well, there's a look to the past and the realization that once a child comes into our lives our priorities change. And the music itself is ... ...with some highlights of a wooden recorder that has just the right touch to it. No question here why this was chosen to be the title track - it is perfection itself.
"Now Forget" - no, this isn't a reprise of the previous song, but again a relationship is the subject of the song. I'm not sure if the relationship is between her and her son or her and her husband, but Noa seems to understand exactly how to synthesize the essence ... more
For this, my final installment (for now) in my crusade to get people to know my favorite female vocalist, I bring to you the latest album by the singer Noa (or as I know her, Achinoam Nini) - Now!
Whereas, I previously thought that her previous album (Blue Touches Blue) was a step in a different direction, I have to say that this album is more like a leap. This collection finds her no longer under the wing of Pat Metheny - which was never a "bad thing", to be sure. Still, one wants to see a real talent such as Noa's find her own way in the music world, since I believe that too much mentoring could actually lead to undue influence and possibly even to the stifling of natural direction and style. I think that in Noa's case, she picked the precise moment to find her own way, and this album is proof that she was totally ready for this.
A quick look at the back of the case, and you'll immediately notice that the songs are listed more like chapters of a book than songs in a collection. There's an prologue, then a group of songs (chapters, if you will), and finally a two-song epilogue. Yes, Noa has decided to tell a story here, and while the plot may not be the most self-evident in the world, I think that she certainly has something to say. Let's take a look at this one, track by track.
Prologue: "Missing Your Heart" - this one starts out with a very electric sound to it and quickly dissolves into the fusion between genres that Noa is so famous for. The words speak about a relationship that's not quite exactly what it should or could be. With lyrics like "and me, I only want to hold you/ and to tell you its ok/ though it really makes me sad/ every time you turn away. // you think that we're don/ but we didn't even start/ passing by your ear/ and missing your heart" I think we can easily see what she's trying to get across here. Noa's long time collaborator, Gil Dor has done an amazing job with the arrangements here, which give this song a particularly fluid, almost liquid feel to it, using the electric sounds combined with bells and a flute and even a touch of the bongo drums. But its no less of a showcase song for Noa's voice, which is layered throughout the track.
"Hawk and Sparrow" - Noa has never been known for being shy about her political views, and here's one of those songs where she's allowed her very left-wing feelings to come across. Here she expresses the frustration of wanting to be loyal to one's people but unable to agree with policies that go against her principals. There's a totally different feel to this song than to the previous one, and so its excellently placed on the disk. She also features an artist I'd never heard of before by the name of Lingala Lokua Kanza, who apparently is a well known African musician from the Congo. The African influence in this song is nicely pointed up here which gives this song a particularly exotic feel to it - even for the Yemenite Noa.
"My Other Wing" - here's a song that is slim on lyrics but the atmosphere here makes up for it in spades. If you consider the previous tracks and their interesting flavours to them, this one seems to bring a whole other shade into play by combining what seems like an African beat, with an electronic background and a touch of the Middle Eastern overtones. Doesn't sound much like the love songs of "Blue Touches Blue" but this song actually has love at the core of it with words like "all night long // touch me, shake me, gently wake me, teach me to sing/... / together we'll fly, all night long / learning to be my other wing/". Okay, so maybe its more like passion than love, but its still there, if you ask me. Splendid piece of work.
"Eye in the Sky" - this song might sound familiar to you, if you're at all familiar with the Alan Parsons Project, since this is one of the "hits" by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. If I quote you the lyrics "I am the eye in the sky/ looking at you/ I can read your mind/ I am the maker of rule/ dealing with fools/ I can cheat you blind/ and I don't need to see any more/ to know that/ I can read your mind/" I think you'll recognize this one. However, that this song wasn't written by Noa doesn't mean that she hasn't made it ‘hers' in her interpretation. Done almost a capella with Gil Dor's amazing guitar accompaniment, they take it down a notch or two for a slower and gentler feel to it which, if you ask me (and hey, since I'm the one writing this op, you have no one else to ask), is an improvement on a song that I didn't even think needed improving upon.
"We" - this song got lots of radio time here in Israel, despite it being in English - and that's not something that most radio stations takes too kindly to here. In this simple song, Noa borrows a tiny bit of lyrics the chorus from a Beatle's song you might recognize "love is all we need", but just a bit. The majority of the song is Noa and Gil Dor. The song has a simple melody to it that feels almost like a folk song, but the chorus dips heavily into the rock genre with some excellent guitar and drums bringing the beat up. The message in this song is a bit off the beaten path for Noa - here she hints to our social responsibilities, while remembering that we can't forget about our private responsibilities as well. This comes out when you hear that snippet of the Beatle's lyric hiding behind Noa's own lyric of "every time that you say we // I hope you think about me".
"Motor Lullabies" - this is the type of song that Noa is most famous for. There's a strong strength here with a beat that pulls you into the song. Noa uses the music to point up her theme here of humans in the world of mechanics, blood rushing from appointment to appointment and how we become disjointed from each other as we are transported from spot to spot in our busy lives. Unfortunately for you, the listeners, you may not have the chance to see this particular one in concert, since this is the song that she uses to showcase the artists that work with her. Luckily for me, I recently saw a televised version of her January 2003 concert in Jerusalem (hey, I would have gone but she performed on the same night as my son's Bar Mitzvah. Tempted as I was, even I couldn't miss my own son's Bar Mitzvah even for my favourite singer). If you ever hear this album, listen carefully to the trumpet in the background and then dream about hearing a solo in concert of that - truly amazing.
"Nothing" - here's another folk-type song that moves into rock. I'm not totally sure what Noa's trying to say here. The lyrics seem to make her sound like she's some sort of God, and yet, perhaps its more that she is taking her own destiny into her own hands. Not the best track on the album, but certainly an interesting one.
"Now" - yes, finally the title track. Again, to fully understand this song one needs to know a touch about Noa's personal life. The space in time between her previous album and this one was due to her taking a personal break to have a baby. This song holds the essence of motherhood in it. Just take a quick look at the chorus lyric of "now // as the air in the night becomes cooler and sweet / now // I get up seven times just to cover his feet / now // there is pain but I've packed it away for next year / now // there is newness and grace // and for now, there's no fear" and you'll see what I mean. There's a look at a child what that means and all its innocence. And as well, there's a look to the past and the realization that once a child comes into our lives our priorities change. And the music itself is both inviting and engulfing - nothing heavy but totally compelling, with some highlights of a wooden recorder that has just the right touch to it. No question here why this was chosen to be the title track - it is perfection itself.
"Now Forget" - no, this isn't a reprise of the previous song, but again a relationship is the subject of the song. I'm not sure if the relationship is between her and her son or her and her husband, but Noa seems to understand exactly how to synthesize the essence of how two people care for each other into a deceptively simple lyric. But this isn't totally an upbeat song here. In fact, its almost as if she seems a tad forceful in trying to relieve the pain of someone she loves. The strings in the background here really make this song feel strong, and then during the bridge, a very Middle Eastern pipe brings this a touch of mystery. Finally, Noa's jazz interpretation solos (especially in the concert - sorry you don't get that here, unfortunately) using her high ranges, with a Yemenite lilt to her voice, just touches your soul.
"Worry Doll" - the lyrics start "lists // I make lists / of all the things that I need to fix / of all the things that I'm not prepared for / of all the many things that I dread" which makes me think ‘Motherhood' a thousand times. This waltz like tune with a touch of humour to it really makes me say ‘this woman knows what its like to be a mother'. There's even a merry-go-round like pipe in the background that makes one think of how we go around and around going over things over and over again to try to protect those we love. Just a little song, but one that's 100% spot on!
"Today" - this song has Noa's lyrics but the music is by someone called Rita Marcotuli. Well, every disk must have its one track that disappoints, and as you begin to listen to this you'll say ‘this is the track'. And it's a shame because at one point there's a bridge with a lovely cymbal in the background that boarders on Jazz and it just doesn't come to fruition. The lyrics are fine, but nothing special.
Epilogue part 1: "We Can Work it Out" - I bet you recognize that title and if so, and you're thinking McCartney & Lennon, then you'll be totally correct. But you might not recognize it with all the Middle Eastern instruments and beat and trills that Noa and Gil Dor have added here. What's more, Noa has another singer with her on this song. This one is Mira Awad - a Palestinian woman who gained acclaim in Israel when she was chosen to play the part of Eliza Doolittle in the Israeli (Hebrew) production of "My Fair Lady". By asking Mira to sing with Noa on this song, the lyric suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. Suddenly a song about a couple that might break up or get back together is a song about building or burning political bridges. And the significance of an Israeli and a Palestinian singing this particular song together should be obvious to everyone. Anyone who wants to see peace on this earth, should hear this version of this song, because it just makes you feel like it actually could happen.
Epilogue part 2: "Dance of Hope" - for the finale of this album, Noa brings everything together. A good rock-like beat, a simple, almost folk-like lyric in its simplicity, electronic effects, African instruments, and a Yemenite lilt to Noa's lovely voice. What an astounding conglomeration, but it fits on this album like a glove, bringing everything together in a rousing encore chorus. It just has to be heard to be believed - and don't spare the volume because this one should rattle the rafters.
So that's the album. And yes, there is a story here. I think its one that takes us from the experiences of a woman about to become a mother, through to her finding out exactly what its like to become a mother, and the realization that this world should be a better place for that child than it is now. Actually, that's not so much of a story as a journey, and I think if you hear these songs you'll enjoy the ride. I only wish I could give you some sound bytes with this op to show you just how special this CD really is.
Bottom line - With the exception of one track that is just "okay" and another that is quite good but falls just a tad short of great, I have to say that on the whole, this is one special collection of music. The arrangements are intricate and unique, and the accompaniments are arranged and handled with expertise and creativity. Of course, I cannot give enough praise to Noa for her voice which I have described in the past as, extraordinary, fresh, versatile, rich, alluring, accomplished and much, much more. What else can I say to convince you to listen - just once - to any of these songs? I cannot recommend her any higher than I already have. So you know what - just do it - go out and listen to Noa - NOW!
Thanks for reading!
~~~~~ Technical Stuff: The official Web site is www.noasmusic.com - where you CAN hear a preview of this disk.
The CD has a Macromedia program that will work on the PC running a Windows operating system without a player, plus extras which include a biography of Noa, a photo gallery of Noa and all the artists on the album, and some notes that Noa wrote about the songs themselves and a touch of their history (which I decided not to depend upon while writing this op). There's also a link to the web page, which has all that the CD has, and a touch more.
Unfortunately, I can't find this album on Amazon.co.uk OR Amazon.com - which greatly disturbs me. But hey, I'm going to still try to be at that concert in Tel Aviv in October!
!!! UPDATE !!! You can order this album from the following site http://www.israel-music.com/?product=645 - it costs US $20 plus another $1 for shipping, apparently.
Finally, in her web site there's a small special notice. Let me quote the first part here:
"dear friends, "on our last tour in europe we encountered a lot of misinformation about israel and what is going on here. not that that is very new, but it seems to have gotten worse. i would like to ask you all to read the following information about Ami Ayalon and his initiative. it summarizes everything we believe in. http://www.mifkad.org.il/Eng/AboutUs.asp"
Please take a look at that web page. Many thanks. ~~~~~
