"The Journey" is an appropriate title for this release by Somalian Maryam Mursal, for the events that led to her arrival in the Western world (and subsequently to her relationship with Realworld Records) made for an incredible journey indeed. Forced to escape from Somalia during the Civil War earlier this decade, Mursal spent weeks wandering through the deserts of Northeastern Africa until she and her family finally found freedom and passage to the West. A singer in her native country, she was 'discovered' and eventually began recording at Realworld, fronting the band Waaberi (traditional Somali band). I know this simple paragraph is glossing over a very compelling story, but we have music to discover here and I can say that this one is worth getting to the point!

Maryam Mursal sings in her native language. Even though I couldn't understand a word she sang, I found her voice to be smooth, yet powerful -- and very pleasant. She sings with a great deal of emotion -- emotion that carries her message loud and clear, transcending linguistics. I'm generally not a big fan of Middle-Eastern music, but at the same time I find Arabic vocals very pleasing to the ear. There is something about the language that just sounds appropriate for song . . . Anyway, this is where "The Journey" becomes a stand-out CD in my book.

Teamed with some of Realworld's best, including Peter Gabriel himself, Mursal has created a soundscape that you just have to hear to appreciate. From the very start, this disc grabbed my attention and held me -- spellbound -- from start to finish. The music is very Western, all the way across the board. Rhythm, melody, groove . . . it screams U.K., it screams QUALITY! Musically every song is a winner, without regard to vocals. This is stuff you might find backing Gabriel or any other U.K. act and, as is the norm with Realworld projects, the mix is pristine. Now, add to this stellar backdrop Mursal's traditional vocals and you've got something that's not only really interesting, it's really good!

Peter Gabriel contributes on "The Journey" with backing vocals on several of the songs, however his voice is mostly buried in the mix. I think having him more prominently on the disc might have increased its mass marketability, but then again, cheap ploys to sell records have never been part of the way Realworld works. The integrity in their management is directly evidenced by the integrity in the music they produce -- Maryam Mursal's work is no exception.

Because the lyrics are not sung in English, it's tough to say, 'I love this song because it means this to me . . ." The lyrics are richly written, telling the story of Mursal's life and, as with "Qax (Refugee)" her struggle to leave her war torn homeland. Unfortunately however, I gathered the richness of the lyrics through their explanation in the liner notes. This is one time I'm sorry I don't speak the language!

The first track, "Lei Lei (I feel alone)" is, although the title suggests strongly otherwise, pretty upbeat. With a sampled horn flourish, this one got my feet tapping and immediately made me want to hear what might be on the rest of the disc. After the next track, "Kufilaw (Take Care)" which possesses an infectious, funky groove but goes in a totally different direction than the first track, I simply couldn't turn back -- I had to hear the rest! With eight tracks total, there are eight distinctly different directions -- each as good as, if not better than the rest.

It's hard to explain this album in a way that does it justice. The best one-liner I can give is "Western pop melody meets Eastern traditional vocals." "The Journey" is a great World Music CD because it offers something on just about every level. To the 'dabbler', the pop melodies and funky, danceable rhythms keep things from getting too heavy (too ethnic?). For the aficionado, this is a World title that earns its place amongst the rest without selling out or resorting to gimmicks to stimulate sales. There is no selling out here, just an honest collaboration that shows how well cultures can come together and create something totally new and original!