If you're a fan of Nick Drake and similar folk artists there is definitely something here for you. A refreshing take in a musical world where everyone is trying to mix as many sounds together as possible: Bedouine proves a song can be just as powerful with only a guitar and vocals. 5 out of 5 stars.
A beautiful group of songs made all the better because the sound was somewhat of a surprise. I admit to a certain amount of stereotyping when I say that the voice and music I heard I was not expecting based on physical appearance. In addition the lyrics are poetic and meaningful, at least to me. My only regret is that it took so long for the disc to get to me ... was the release delayed for some reason?
M. Bell meant well in reviewing the album in combination with the vinyl pressing itself, but lowered the overall Amazon rating of this excellent album in the process (which only had one other review at the time), and thereby did something of a disservice for this incredible artist. I feel compelled to right this probably unintentional wrong, and tell you, the curious music explorer, that this album is indeed worth your while.
Why? Let me count the ways. First and foremost, it's the rare singer-songwriter record that isn't a dramatic confessional booth filled with pained emotional regurgitations. More than anything, this album paints a picture of an artist who is obviously comfortable in her own skin, knows what she needs (apparently she requires very little to get by), and has a great appreciation for so many things in life. It's (gasp) mature and (gasp again) restrained and manages to do a lot with precious little. The production is pristine and simple, but features enough strings and such that it feels as if these songs have been treasured appropriately in the studio, too.
One of my favorite records of 2017 as of September 24th. Here's hoping my five-star review offsets that two-star review.
My wife and I saw Bedouine when she was opening for Jose Gonzalez in Phoenix in January '18. We were mesmerized by her voice and by the pure magic of her music. She was also pretty funny. My wife got this vinyl for me on Valentine's Day and we have literally listened to it every day since then. We put it on while eating, doing chores, reading, etc. It is really nice and relaxing to have this beautiful music throughout the house. It simply is a pleasure to hear. We were also amazed at how she sounds just as good live as she does on the album, which is rare these days. This instantly shot to my top 10 favorite albums.