Soapkills: The Best of Soapkills (CD on Crammed Discs)

Band: Soapkills
Label: Crammed Discs
Title: The Best of Soapkills

Review (1)	Release Details	Add Release	Releases (1)	Articles (0)
Cover Art (1)	Versions (0)	Edit Release	Releases List (1)	Reviews (1)
Pictures (0)			Summary (0)	Related (0)
			Jukebox (1)	List All (1)

Band:Soapkills
Title:The Best of Soapkills
Reviewed By:Maarten Schiethart
Date Published:22/07/2015

Label:Crammed Discs
Format:CD
Release Year:2015
Lookup:

The Brussels-based label Crammed Discs is one of those trusted record labels whose compilations always prove winners.

Chanteuse Yasmine Hamdan formed this now disbanded duo with Zeid Hamdan (no family relative) who was in a rock band before turning to electronic instruments. 'The Best Of Soapkills' is compiled from three self-released albums they put out between 2001 and 2005. Exclusive to 'The Best Of Soapkills' are two tracks, 'Cheftak' and 'Wadih'. 'Cheftak' is a marvellous, strolling, jazzy triphop number, while 'Wadih' is a sparse and intricate lullaby.

Many songs include inspired contemporary versions of music standards. Soapkills contributed tracks to various theatre plays and films, most notably to the film 'Divine Intervention' by Elia Suleiman. They appear close to a Bristol-Beirut partnership, as Soapkills share a breezy, oceanic and groovy quality with musicians on Bristol labels like Cup Of Tea.

Even the syrup-styled first minutes of 'Aranis & Koullou Ndif' come to an end in great surprise. There are no clichés allowed. The hallmark of Soapkills comes from their cunning mystery. 'Marco Slow' is a clever, jigging little instrumental ditty, well-sequenced on the album before Soapkills go dubbing on 'Herzan' in typical non-reggae style. Soapkills play 'western' styles methodically. Their subtle arrangements of triphop, lounge music and dub are very unlike popular productions in these genres. This collection may appeal to fans of lo-fi and slow-motion indie rock, I hope.

In fact, the first track with a typical Arabian flavour is 'Enta Fan' which comes more than half an hour into this compilation. A touch of Berlin's Basic Channel sound can be found on 'Souleyma' ,but the best is saved for the last. The glorious grace of 'Marra Fi Ghnina' ends an expedition into music that one perhaps never thought possible.

Their three albums are available as downloads. 'The Best Of Soapkills' for the time being, however, will be their sole release on CD outside the Levant.

Track Listing:

01) Leh Zaalen
02) Yahoo!
03) Cheftak
04) Tango
05) Marco Slow
06) Aranis & Koullou Ndif
07) Herzan
08) Galbi
09) Enta Fen
10) Wadih
11) Manni 2elak
12) Souleyma
13) Kasdoura
14) Marra Fi Ghnina

First Previous Next Last

Related Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_Kills
https://www.facebook.com/soapkills

Commenting On: The Best of Soapkills by Soapkills

Header

Comment:

Your Name

Your Location ie London, England

tick box before submitting comment

First Previous Next Last

Related Bands (edit)

Related Labels
Crammed Discs

Review Header

Fabulous collection of mellow Beirut triphop pop, which was recorded between 2001 and 2005, from visionary duo, Soapkills

Articles A-Z
View All				A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

The Best of Soapkills - CD
Fabulous collection of mellow Beirut triphop pop, which was recorded between 2001 and 2005, from visionary duo, Soapkills

First Previous Next

Reviews A-Z
View All				A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z