Born and raised in the refugee camps outside the disputed territory of Western Sahara, Aziza Brahim has much to be angry about. Soutak – a voice for the voiceless – tells of injustice, oppression, loss and resistance, eloquently and poetically expressed. Singers from the region often have a harsh and wild edge to their sound, but Aziza – her style modulated perhaps by her travels and her current residency in Spain – has an easy-paced and internationalised sound that doesn't scare the horses. The vocals are central and authoritative, the melodies memorable, and the band of acoustic guitar, bass and percussion (from Mali and Spain) solid and supportive. Gdeim Izik is a fierce condemnation of prison camps, the voice-and-drum Aradana a tale of loss, and Ya Watani a moving statement of aspirational nationhood. glitterbeat.com
Download: Gdeim Izik, Aradana, Lagi