Ensen

Emel Mathlouthi is a Tunisian singer-songwriter whose song ‘Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free)’ became a youth anthem during the Arab Spring, earning her the title ‘voice of the Tunisian revolution’ and an invitation to perform at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Ensen is not an album of Souad Massi-style acoustic ballads or rousing Arabic anthems but 21st-century avant rock with Kate Bush, Björk and James Blake as obvious influences. Yet for every epic, English-language tune here, there are more intense tunes like ‘Ensen Dhaif’ that blend Arabic flavours with electro fittings. I prefer the latter material – the album divides somewhat evenly between the two – but there's no doubting Mathlouthi's ability and willingness to challenge herself (and our preconceptions).

As our world gets smaller and everyone anywhere can listen to music from other nations, there will be more and more music from non-Western nations that comfortably wears the same sonic clothing. And Mathlouthi might just be – alongside Acid Arab and Omar Souleyman – one of the new Arabic artists to command a young Western following.