Noa - Noa (1994)

For this album aimed at the US market, Israeli jazz/folk singer Achinoam Nini adopted the nickname Noa, which also became the title of the record. Although recorded quite early in her career, it is a very polished and competently executed album with excellent instrumental and vocal work, which is further enhanced by the classy production sound of Pat Metheny.
Guitar virtuoso Metheny stayed behind the mixing desk on this project, leaving all guitar duties to Noa's compatriot and collaborator, Gil Dor, whose dexterous acoustic guitar work provides a lively backing for Noa's agile voice. Throughout, the album is characterised by a typical Metheny Group 'ambient' sound, with ringing acoustic guitars, warm synthesizer orchestrations by Lyle Mays, and the string bass of Steve Rodby. The superb drum sound of Steve Ferrone gives a terrific lift to the opening track, but throughout most of the album little percussion is used.
Despite having lived in the US for much of her youth, Noa's English lyrics are of only moderate quality, but even so the songs in English come across well, being at times reminiscent of Joni Mitchell's early work. However, it is perhaps in the more exotic sound of the three Hebrew songs that Noa and Gil are at their most effective and original, with 'Uri' (a setting of a Hebrew poem) being particularly touching. Another unusual feature is the inclusion of the JS Bach composition 'Ave Maria' as the closing track, in which despite Noa's slightly clumsy English lyrics (which to classical purists would be a desecration of the Bach/Gounod original) the sentiments - a prayer for peace in her troubled homeland - are nevertheless profound.
This is a superb album of music which is refreshingly different, yet with an overall sound that is comfortingly familiar. I can't recommend it highly enough. Her other albums are a bit more idiosyncratic in style, but well worth hearing if you enjoy this one.