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Alongside Gail Ann Dorsey (Bowie's regular bassist), this is the first time a David Bowie song has been adapted into Arabic. The man who sold the world becomes Elli, and Yara Lapidus, at a complete remove from the meaning of the original text, expresses her desires and hopes, reminding us that this tormented East is the cradle of civilisation. A breakthrough with minimalist arrangements, in which Hakim Hamadouche (Rachid Taha's accomplice of thirty years) weaves the meandering melody with the brilliance of his electric mandolin. The rest of this EP, 'Orientée', is a composite heritage of Love and the Orient, with contributions from Bachar Mar Khalifé, Adnan Joubran... A hymn of hope from Yara to her near East, whose resonance is more topical than ever.
Yara Lapidus