The Arabic songs that make up the majority of Ayeshteni convey that trademark sense of yearning with equal immediacy. From the fluttering flutes and seductive sway of "Ashwa" to the melancholy gloss of "Mish Fadilak"; from the meditative immediacy and sonorous drones of "Rah" to the crisp, sparse Nitin Sawhney mix of "Manbai" that closes the record, Ayeshteni is emotionally consistent and compelling as anything Natacha has recorded.
