Oum

Moroccan tradition meets cosmopolitanism. In recent years, the vocalist Oum has become an icon of modern North African music. She produces a thrilling mix of the traditional gnawa rhythms of her homeland, Arab compositions and the sounds of jazz, pop and soul, opening up extraordinary sound worlds to an ever-widening audience. Her current album Dakchi (“these things”) is both a retrospective and a creative development: Oum recombines songs from her successful albums Soul of Morocco, Zarabi and Daba and adds some fascinating new material. Brass, lutes and guitars harmonise in an Oriental sound cosmos, while Oum’s unmistakable voice shifts between tender whispers and emotional power. For anyone who wants to expand their musical horizons, Oum is a real treat. The album she is performing on stage, Dakchi is the perfect collection to appreciate the full spectrum of her abilities and discover her fascinating work.