The London Times has selected the album "Ahlam" by the Valencia based trio "NES" among the 100 best overall albums of 2018. This marks yet another highlight in a series of remarkable press reactions since the release of the album on August 31st, 2018. The album fuses influences of jazz, classical music and folklore from the Mediterranean and Middle East, in French, English and Arab language with voice, cello and percussion.
In the beginning of 2019 NES will start the second leg of their European tour featuring the repertoire of "Ahlam"
16.01.19 |
Istanbul |
TR |
Akbank Sanat |
05.02.19 |
Paris |
FR |
Alhambra, Au fil des voix festival |
06.02.19 |
Utrecht |
NL |
TV show: "Vrije Geluiden" |
07.02.19 |
Freiburg |
DE |
Jazzhaus |
08.02.19 |
Allensbach |
DE |
Gnadenkirche |
09.02.19 |
Karlsruhe |
DE |
Kulturzentrum Tempel |
10.02.19 |
Zürich |
CH |
Moods |
12.02.19 |
Dresden |
DE |
Dreikönigskirche |
13.02.19 |
Berlin |
DE |
A-Trane |
14.02.19 |
München |
DE |
Jazzclub Unterfahrt |
15.02.19 |
Mühldorf |
DE |
Haberkasten |
16.02.19 |
Langenau |
DE |
Pflegehof |
28.02.19 |
Southhampton |
GB |
Turner Sims |
23.03.19 |
Bonn |
DE |
Over the Border Festival |
25.04.19 |
Berlin |
DE |
Konzerthaus |
26.04.19 |
Bremen |
DE |
Option Jazzahead |
29.04.19 |
Halle |
DE |
"Women in Jazz" Festival |
11.05.19 |
Basel |
CH |
Jazzfestival |
19.07.19 |
Hilversum |
NL |
Wonderfeel festival |
More press reactions on "Ahlam"
„Nesrine Belmokh is an incandescent, multilingual talent and „Ahlam“ one of the albums of the year.“
- The London Times (GB)
„New, wonderful music and a voice that aims straight for the heart.“
- Arte Metropolis (DE / FR)
„An album with immediate charm and a beautiful crossing of feelings and moods, a stroll between lightness and melancholy.“
- Le Monde (FR)
“NES unites jazz, oriental and pop colours with a sensual swing.”
- Télérama
„An inventive trio switching effortlessly from Arab-Andalusian styles to blues and chanson. / World-music album of the month.“
- The Guardian (GB)
„NES make us hear the beauty of the world.“
- France Inter, André Manoukian (FR)
„A name to watch.“
- The Evening Standard (GB)
„Ingeniously quirky Arab-Andalusian inventions from a highly original band. / Album of the month. / * * * * “
- Songlines (GB)
„A poetic trip through the musical world of the Mediterranean.“
- WDR (DE)
“Ahlam“ is certain to gain attention. The album title means „dream“ – and the music sounds simply dream-like.“
- Jazzthetik (DE)
„The time for NES has come.“
- Deutschlandfunk (DE)
„Music with moving urgency.“
- Fono Forum (DE)
„Nesrine Belmokhs voice has an hypnotic attraction that one cannot resist.“
- Kulturzeitschrift
„NES artfully unites arabic folk and jazz singing.“
- Jazzwise (GB)
„A wonderful album.“
- Music Frames (NL)
„It is this kind of little wonders for which we like the ACT label. A work of intelligence, beauty and poetry and an indispensable album that seduces and captivates you.“
- Paris Match (FR)
„A wonderful album.“
- Music Frames (NL)
„From this formation we can only expect great things, while we continue to listenen to ‚Ahlam‘, hypnotized and seduced.“
- Masjazz (ES)
„Now that we know NES and their music, we can only say that we want more.“
- Distritio Jazz (ES)
„An extremely interesting album for all who prefer ethnic music in a broad sense.“
- Longplay (PL)
„NES juggles genres without ever falling into clichés, mix emotions and universes. Crystalline, intelligible and luminous, this album soothes the listener and forces the spirits to open to diversity.“
- Culture Jazz (FR)
"If you like Arabic pop this album is a goldmine. The singer Nesrine Belmokh has an enchanting voice, orientally coloured with Andalusian blues and French chanson. She sings both in Arabic, English and French. A solid album, yummy for both ears and soul."
- M magazine (SE)