Promises of the Storm

Influenced by Arab-Andalusian traditions and contemporary Middle Eastern politics, Lebanese singer Marcel Khalife performs poetry by Palestinian poets Mahmoud Darwish and Izzidine Al Munassrah. The traditional Arab instrument, the oud, accompanies each song. Khalife sings in colloquial Arabic, even though customarily most poems and songs use classic Arabic. Liner notes suggest that this is Khalife's way of dignifying the common people. Liner notes include Arabic texts and English translations of the poems, photographs and illustrations, and articles on the poets, as well as a perspective on recent regional conflict.