Natacha Atlas

Natacha Atlas captures an ethereal, otherworldly sound that renders even symphonic backup impotent in comparison with her insistent, vibrato-laden vocals. Meshing North African tonalities with transcendent orchestration, Atlas is helping to define a new world music that relies equally on Techno tricks and indigenous folk forms. A lead singer for the TransGlobal Underground for years, Atlas struck out on her own in 1995 with the album Diaspora, and has cut several CDs since. As her career grows, Atlas' lovely voice will no doubt mature, as will her wide-ranging stylistic interests. One to watch.