Something Dangerous

Having secured her place in dance music’s history books early on with the classic Transglobal Underground single ‘Templehead’, Natacha – who once described herself as a “human Gaza Strip” in reference to her multicultural background – has spent the last decade exploring the vast frontiers of ethnotechno, both as a solo artist and on collaborations with artists as diverse as ex-Bauhaus boy Daniel Ash, Jean Michelle Jarre and the cruelly under-rated maverick Jah Wobble.

The cross-pollination theme of her career thus far is taken to new levels on Something Dangerous. Our musical journey opens with the sweetly glistening Middle-Eastern flavours of ‘Adam’s Lullaby’, closes with the textured cinematic epic ‘Like The Last Drop’, and along the way takes in pop phenomena such as bhangra, hip-hop, ragga, UK garage, drum ‘n’ bass and superslick r’n’b, without ever sounding too contrived.

There are many guest vocalists – a first for an Atlas album – and sterling performances from Sinéad O’Connor (is ‘Simple Heart’ to be the last new recording from our sadly retired heroine?), Princess Julianna (who features on three) and Myra Boyle (whose contribution to ‘When I Close My Eyes’ adds to its Saint Etienne styled charms) are among its high points.

But ironically the album’s most moving piece ‘Le Printemps’ rips out all contemporary threads in favour of the simplistic, and timeless, beauty of Natacha and a stripped-back orchestral backing, allowing her powerfully evocative voice to soar, hymn-like, in all its glory and splendour. And she does a fine belly dance too, you know!