Karol Sakr - 009

Perhaps one of 2009's most anticipated albums, Karol Sakr's 009 was finally released in May after months of delays. The change in style is evident with Tarek Abou Jaoudeh gone, and the focus shifts from ballads to pop songs. The album opens with Gheltan Ktir, a reworked version of Ajda Pekkan's Aynen Öyle, albeit credited to Jean Saliba. The song fits Karol's emotive voice perfectly, while Elie Barbar and Cem Erken's arrangement could have used some acoustic instruments. Bi Albi, composed by Hisham Boulos, is infectiously catchy and even the way the auto-tuner drowns Karol's voice works. The only complaints lie with the interlude's resemblance to Guru Josh's Infinity 2008, especially when the beautiful strings that end the song could have easily replaced it. For the first time, Karol has two Egyptian songs here, and Hadi Sharara gets more experimental with their arrangement. Ertah We Rayyahni is catchy pop, while the popular Eih El Gedid is a more R&B-influenced track. The songs most like Karol's previous album arrive in the middle, with Salim Salameh and Wissam El Amir's songs. Jerh Ghiyabak, the first only single from the album, is in classic Hadi Sharara ballad form sans the focus on strings. We Btes'al Shou Beni is a more laidback ballad, but finally ushers in more real instruments with beautiful accordion solos and strings. Ha'ak Alayeh continues the trend and adds a bouzouk to the mix, in a catchy jazz-influenced number. Melhem Barakat returns with a very different song from Da'et Albak. Horr Tsadde'ni has a much more traditional approach, and while the instrumentation is beautiful, you can't help but feel that the song would have been better suited to Najwa Karam or Melhem himself.

1. Gheltan Ktir

2. Bi Albi

3. Ertah We Rayyahni

4. Eih El Gedid

5. Jerh Ghiyabak

6. We Btes'al Shou Beni (Ma'i Ou Mish Ma'i)

7. Ha'ak Alayeh

8. Horr Tsadde'ni

9. Gheltan Ktir (Extended)

Download Here

256 Kbps + Covers

Assi Al Hillani - Zghireh El Denyeh

Assi Al Hillani never made an album as diverse as Zghireh El Denyeh, and the success that followed was only natural. The album includes the smash hits Habibi Yalli Nasini, Senin, Ouli Jayeh, as well as Zghireh El Denyeh and an electronic remix of the the 2000 hit El Hawa Tayer. Though Tarek Abou Jaoudeh does not dominate this album (like he did Forset Omur), his work is stellar all the same on all four songs he composed: Habibi Yalli Nasini, Ouli Jayeh, Dayeb Fik, and Tarani. Whether its pure pop songs, like the title song or Dayeb Fik, dabke songs like Lamma Betkouni Ma'i and Ala Ain, or fusions like Habibi Yalli Nasini and Tarani, Zghireh El Denyeh is an album that doesn't disappoint. The list of musicians and arrangers Assi worked with is just as impressive, with arrangers Hadi Sharara, Jean-Marie Riachi, Boudi Naoum, and Ravi. Also on the list is İsmail Tunçbilek (on saz), Maher El Ali (ney and kawala), and strings by Jihad Akl, Raymond Nassif, and Orchestra Gundem from Turkey.



1. Zghireh El Denyeh
2. Habibi Yalli Nasini
3. Senin
4. Ouli Jayeh (feat. Karol Sakr)
5. Lamma Betkouni Ma'i
6. Tarani
7. Dayeb Fik
8. Ala Ain
9. Inti El Ha'i'a
10. Weili
11. Be Einak Shoug
12. Haniyalak
13. El Hawa Tayer (Remix)

Download Here
256 Kbps + Covers

Karol Sakr - Da'et Albak

Though Da'et Albak is her debut album, Karol Sakr is no stranger to music, having worked in her twenties with Hadi Sharara and other musicians. Karol even released an obscure French single before marrying and settling down. After her divorce, and (later on) marriage to friend Hadi Sharara, Karol returned to the music scene in duet with Assi Al Hillani, Ouli Jayeh. Three years later, Karol released Da'et Albak. Carrying Hadi Sharara's name on every song is a rarity in itself, but the list of composers doesn't pale in comparison either. The hit title song, composed by Melhem Barakat, is a relaxed and upbeat song that manages to go both East and West without slipping into the oriental jazz cliche. Ya Albi Rouq, composed by Tarek Abou Jaoudeh (before his split with Karol and Hadi), opens with a light mawal and then the song, a great mix of strings, electronic motifs, and guitar, begins. The diverse ballad ends with a traditional, more dramtic mawal with much heavier percussion. Bmout Alaik is by the same team as Nancy Ajram's Ehsas Jdid and Najwa Karam's Ta'a Khabbik, however Ufuk Yildirm also joins Hadi Sharara on the arrangement. Sahhart Eyouni, one of the album's biggest undertakings, is arranged by Hadi Sharara, Aytekin Kurt, and Elie Barbar. A completely different song than the previous three, Sahhart Eyouni combines both club and traditional Arabic beats, combined with strings by Group Gumedim from Turkey. Tammenteni, the album's sole Egyptian song, takes the same relaxed tone as Bmout Alaik. Shou Baddak and Hakini, both composed by Tarek Abou Jaoudeh, are more upbeat than Ya Albi Rouq, but also relatively relaxed oriental songs reminiscent of the majority of his work with Hadi Sharara. Wain Bla'ik is an almost completely electronic song, both composed and arranged by Sharara himself.



1. Da'et Albak
2. Ya Albi Rouq
3. Bmout Alaik
4. Sahhart Eyouni
5. Tammenteni
6. Shou Baddak
7. Wain Bla'ik
8. Hakini

Download Here
256 Kbps + Covers