Hindi Zahra: Handmade

4-star GUARDIAN review by Robin Denselow of Handmade 21/05/2010

(EMI/Blue Note)

Hindi Zahra is a contender for newcomer of the year. Brought up in Morocco, but currently based in Paris and London, she's the daughter of a Berber mum and French dad, sings mostly in English and occasionally in Berber, and has been influenced by soul and jazz more than north African styles. Performing in London last year she mixed blues and flamenco influences with a sudden, frantic improvisation that reminded me of Patti Smith, but there's little hint of that in this intimate, gloriously slinky and often understated set. She starts with Beautiful Tango, a song that drifts between chanson and jazz, then she switches between English and Berber on the cool, folky but jazzy-tinged Oursoul, and subtly changes direction again with the easy-going, soulful Fascination, one of several songs here that already sound like standards. She concentrates mostly on languid, gently rhythmic ballads, but speeds up for the easy swing of the north African-edged Stand Up and stomping Music before easing off, once again. It's a charming, compelling album, but I suspect she's capable of far more.