Abathaddak
Ahlam
3 Stars
Platinum Records
When you are called something long enough, you begin to believe it. Such is the case with Emirati pop icon Ahlam, who throughout her career has been labelled Queen Ahlam, or simply The Queen by fans and the mere mortals of the press.
With her latest album Abathaddak, she takes on the mantle, rather literally, with an album cover showing her wearing an Elizabethan style crown. The regality is also felt throughout the solid album, with another batch of elegant state of the art Khaleeji pop composed by Saudi hitmaker Talal and anchored by Ahlam's husky tones. While her role as the firebrand judge in Arab Idol has endeared her to a new generation of younger fans, Abathaddak doesn't mess around with western pop sounds, as fellow panellist Nancy Ajram does, and instead keeps it traditional, albeit with a super slick surface.
Clocking in at a brisk 41 minutes, Ahlam and her team have clearly focused on quality over quantity. All of the songs are expertly produced with Ahlam's vocals remaining committed through out. The main drawback to the whole affair, however, is the lack of vocal variety from the Emirati singer. While Talal's compositions are varied enough, Ahlam is more content to play it straight down the middle with vocals that are pristine yet no where near the knock-out levels she often demands from her Arab Idol contestants. That said, there is enough here to keep those UAE traffic jams and beach drives a somewhat pleasurable experience. Here is our track by track review of Abathaddak.
Kalimat Za’el
Flamenco guitars opens the album and are eventually met by that trademark syncopated Khaleeji beat and warm synths. These elements, however, are firmly kept in the background with Ahlam's strong vocals yearning her lover to open up a little bit. But you suspect not as much as her when she is on Arab Got Talent mode.
Abathaddak
When it works Khaleeji pop is a deft mix of emotion and muscle. The album’s title track is a case in point. Ahlam’s vocals here are passionate yet precise and almost pirouettes against the sturdy drums and percussion. This should go down a treat live.
Malhoufa Li Sawtik
You need to get over that corny piano if you want to enjoy this ballad. It’s in the kind of quacking style you hear in Egyptian film montages from the 1960s. Then again, maybe that’s the point as it’s augmented by over dramatic cinematic strings.
Ala Shanek
Another Khaleelji pop gem and another potential crowd favourite. The keyboards and strings are kept to minimum and the oud and percussion and handclaps take over. The chorus is huge and even when Ahlam is expressing the wish to reconcile, a weariness abounds that hints her man is in the Last Chance Saloon.
Min Ather Aleik
The first 15 seconds are eye brow raising: is Ahlam genuinely thinking of busting out a jazz funk tune? Sadly, or not depending on your tastes, it was a mere prologue for what is a flat song. It is here, half way through the album, that you begin to realise Ahlam’s voice — no matter how gorgeous it can be — is functioning in cruise control. Where are the fire works?
Thank Elawal Ghalat
A whimsical song; the melodies and percussion cascade gently to only be picked up again by the strings. Ahlam arrives with a punchy performance here, her jabbing vocals matches the accusatory lyrics.
Fog Ma Tesawar
Ahlam finally steps it up a notch in the bridge of what is a stellar track. Despite the different things going on here, from the strings to the keyboards and rumbling percussion, the song is loose enough to accommodate the emotive vocals.
Kaani Omry Ma Habet
The looseness continues here with this rollicking tune. Ahlam is ecstatic — although she sings her joy in downbeat minor melodies as is the Arab pop style as she speaks of her newfound love. The buoyancy is matched by playful production which includes a rippling qanoon and rousing back up singers.
Ersi Ala Bar
More joy is found in the finale and thus ending in Abathaddak on a satisfying note. The drum section here pounds along with plucky oud and strings. In the middle of this party atmosphere is Ahlam who delivers another a set of breezy vocals that are consummately backed by a gaggle of deep voiced male crooners.
