Ana Hina

Songs and background

Many of the songs on the album were culled from her father's personal tape collection by Atlas's music director, Harvey Brough. The lyrics to "La Vida Callada", a duet with Spanish singer Clara Sanabras, are based on a poem composed by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. "Black is the Colour" is a traditional Scottish folk song. Atlas' version is loosely based on Nina Simone's cover version and features a Middle Eastern musical arrangement. The song "He Hesitated" refers to the Iraq War; Atlas has openly criticized the foreign policy decisions of former United States President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The track "El Nowm" was inspired by Lebanese composer Zad Moultaka's album Anashid.

Critical response

Ana Hina received positive reviews from music critics. In a review for The Guardian, Robin Denselow called the album a "mature, varied and entertaining set". The Times reviewer David Hutcheon described Ana Hina as "rather wonderful" and named "La Vida Callada" as its best song. Youssef Rakha of the The National wrote that the album "is a powerful statement about being in the world today, a musical monument to globalisation" and further commented that its "effect is both refreshing and disorienting".