As a child from a poor family Souad dreamed of seeing the rest of the world, but her heart is in Africa - not just the Arab and Berber Africa of Algiers, but the Africa of the Touregs (Southern Sahara desert) and black Africa further south.

 HONEYSUCKLE, her third album is her most realized effort yet. Algerian Chaabi mixed with the morna of Cape Verdi (popular in Paris), the orchestral sounds associated  with the greats of Egyptian music, the Manding music of Mali, the fado music of Portugal, with touches of flamenco, hints of jazz and pop - this is sophisticated international music very rooted in Northern Africa and the western Mediterranean.

 Along with long-time guitarist Jean-Franchoise Kellner, HONEYSUCKLE features guitarist Djely Moussa Kouyate from Salif Keita's band. Souad adds to the African flavor, singing a duet with Daby Toure: her voice is so soft and gentle you'd never guess she had been the singer in an Algerian metal band.

 Acoustic guitar with cello reminds this listener of the ex-folky singer/songwriters of the early 70s, but not American - more like Morna and fado.   Listen to cut 8, 'Tell Me Why' (Sung in English): if this tune doesn't remind you of George Harrison's Indian period, nothing will.

 Things are not so good in Algeria today, particularly if you're not a fundamentalist Muslim - so there is much sadness in the lyrics of HONEYSUCKLE, yet the music is moving and beautiful, much as the artist herself.