The Journey (Maryam Mursal album)
The Journey | |
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Studio album by | |
Released | 1998 |
Studio | Real World[1] |
Label | Real World |
Producer | Simon Emmerson, Martin Russell |
The Journey is the solo debut album by the Somali musician Maryam Mursal.[2][3] It was released in 1998 by Real World Records.[4] Mursal supported the album by touring with the Africa Fete festival.[5]
Production
[edit]The Journey documents Mursal's flight from war-torn Somalia through deserts to Denmark.[6][7] It was produced by Simon Emmerson and Martin Russell, with arrangements by Soren Jenson.[8][9] Hossam Ramzy played percussion on the album.[10] Peter Gabriel contributed backing vocals.[11] Among the backing musicians were members of Waaberi and Danish session players.[12] "Lei Lei" is a reworked version of the Waaberi song "Cidlaan Dareemaya".[13] "Hamar" is an instrumental track.[14] "Qax" and "Somali Udiida Ceb" were written during Mursal's trek.[15]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Age | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer wrote that the album "dazzlingly mixes West African and Arabic roots with western production values."[19] The New York Times determined that "Mursal sounds too tough to let herself be reduced to an exotic sonic ingredient."[13] Rolling Stone concluded that "Mursal refuses to remain a prisoner of her native styles, embracing the frank beats and feral musical constructions of European, Middle Eastern and African nightclubs."[20]
The Irish Times deemed the album "a healthy hybrid that is fuelled by Mursal's passionate vocals—and impressive playing by a host of musicians."[21] The Gazette noted that "all manner of high-tech, worldbeat stuff has been grafted on to Mursal's Somali roots music."[22] The Chicago Tribune stated that The Journey "frames Mursal's extraordinary alto voice inside an array of musical textures created by strings, horn samples from old mambo records, wah-wah guitars, accordions and traditional instruments."[15] The Morning Call, The Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune listed it among 1998's best albums.[23][24][25]
AllMusic wrote that "the layers of sound on this disc blend techno with a more traditional Afro-pop sound."[16]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Lei Lei (I Feel Alone)" | |
2. | "Kufïlaw (Take Care)" | |
3. | "Somali Udiida Ceb (Somalia, Don't Shame Yourself)" | |
4. | "Sodewou (Welcome)" | |
5. | "Hamar (The Big City)" | |
6. | "Qax (Refugee)" | |
7. | "Nin Hun (Bad Man)" | |
8. | "Fejigno (Beware)" |
References
[edit]- ^ Spencer, Peter (21 June 1998). "World". Star Tribune. Newhouse News Service. p. 2F.
- ^ "Maryam Mursal Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
- ^ Newsome, Melba (Jul 1998). "The journey of Maryam Mursal". The Crisis. Vol. 105, no. 3. pp. 34–36.
- ^ "Maryam Mursal". NPR.
- ^ Heckman, Don (18 June 1998). "Diversity on Tour". Los Angeles Times. p. F26.
- ^ "Maryam Mursal: The Journey". JazzTimes. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Somali star's road to Eden". BBC. July 8, 2005.
- ^ a b Denselow, Robin (3 Apr 1998). "Maryam Mursal The Journey". The Guardian. p. T016.
- ^ Miles, Milo (28 Apr 1998). "Dry country divas". The Village Voice. Vol. 43, no. 17. pp. 129, 132.
- ^ Poet, J. (Oct 1998). "Maryam Mursal". Wired. Vol. 6, no. 10. p. 174.
- ^ "Album Reviews". Music Week. Mar 7, 1998. p. 28.
- ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. pp. 541–542.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (29 Mar 1998). "A Voice That Pleads for Home". The New York Times. p. 2:46.
- ^ a b Taylor, Kerry (12 June 1998). "The Journey Maryam Mursal". Entertainment Guide. The Age. p. 8.
- ^ a b Kot, Greg (26 June 1998). "Bold Voyager". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 26.
- ^ a b "Maryam Mursal The Journey". AllMusic.
- ^ "Maryam Mursal". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 82.
- ^ Spencer, Neil (15 Mar 1998). "Maryam Mursal The Journey". The Observer Review Page. The Observer. p. 13.
- ^ Hunter, James (Jun 11, 1998). "The Journey". Rolling Stone. No. 788. p. 121.
- ^ Breen, Joe (3 Apr 1998). "Traditional/Roots". Sound & Vision. The Irish Times. p. 14.
- ^ Feist, Daniel (23 May 1998). "Maryam Mursal recounts her Journey". The Gazette. p. C11.
- ^ Righi, Len (2 Jan 1999). "1998: The Year in Review — Pop Music". The Morning Call. p. A29.
- ^ "The Best of 1998". The Washington Post. 1 Jan 1999. p. N7.
- ^ Kot, Greg (6 Dec 1998). "Sound Decisions". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.