Kelmti horra

"Emel Mathlouthi, Tunisian born and now based in France, has made a record that captures the secret hopes and fears of life under the old regime, as well as the sheer strangeness of seeing a country turn on its axis. The album title translates as My Words Are Free, but it's not a triumphalist bandwagon record. Despite the inspirational title track apparently having been adopted by protesters, the predominant mode is sombre and reflective. In fact the one time Tricky collaborator uses every grim trick at her disposal: dirty trip hop beats, a mournful Russian choir, Sinead O'Connor confessionalism. It's a smart, moody, intimate record ... Should be cult listening beyond the World Music crowd".