Zagate

Sitting somewhere between folk, rock and poetry, Zagate is the dazzling new album from French Algerian artist Souad Massi. Predominantly recorded in the UK, Zagate explores a range of intense emotions: pain, anger and revolt, but also hope and courage. At the helm once again (he produced her previous album, Sequana) is guitarist and producer Justin Adams. Congolese rapper Youssoupha and Rwandan French rapper Gael Faye make guest appearances alongside a stellar band, which includes John Baggott on keyboard (Massive Attack, Robert Plant), and Billy Fuller (Robert Plant) on bass. From the electric rock of Ana Inssan to the bewitching Afrobeat of Samt, or from the Saharan folk of D’ici, De la-bas to the Parisian blues of Chibani, each track on Zagate reveals new vocal nuances. Long associated with gentleness and melancholy, Massi delves into her own diverse history to produce one of her most authentic albums to date, the softness of her vocals standing in stark contrast to the weight of today’s world. Although reluctant to describe herself as politically active – “I prefer to keep that word for those who are out in the field” – the album offers an unflinching, frank reflection on the troubled aspects of our world: war, violence, racism and the tragedies which flood our screens and weigh on our consciences. “I find it difficult not to be affected by all the information we are constantly being bombarded with,” Massi confides. “In this album, I wanted to share my own vision of the world”.