11 improbable duets across walls of separation

"Songs across Walls of Separation" presents songs from Palestine, Morocco, Syria, Kashmir, Cyprus and Mexico, where walls within their borders or between them and richer countries separate neighbours. This CD features singers, who themselves are unable to meet each other because of these walls of separation, performing together with American and European artists presenting their interpretations in English of the original songs. Natacha Atlas (UK/Egypt), Tom Russell (USA), Mimi Goese (USA), Sarah Jane Morris (UK), Eva Dahlgren (Sweden) and Morten Harket (Norway) are among the singers from Western countries performing together with Rim Banna (Palestine), Mahmoud Gania (Morocco), Abdul Rashid Farash (Kashmir), Esmaeel Mdah (Syria), Michael Tterlikkas (Cyprus) and others from "wall-infested" countries. 

Erik Hillestad has travelled on both sides of the walls recording all the voices. Knut Reiersrud (guitar), Audun Erlien (keyboards, bass) and Anders Engen (drums) have then created compositions around these original recordings. Thus this musical and political project 

has become a worthy successor to "Lullabies from the Axis of Evil", even if the expression is more powerful and more rock than cradle song. 

The CD is accompanied by a 64-page booklet in English which documents the recording process and the effect of the walls on individual fates.

Track list:

1. The Only Passport You Have / Shalaban                                                         5:50

Mustafa Bahia / Mahmoud Gania (Marocco) and Tom Russell (USA)

2. Wind from Distant Places / Halalalalayah                                                       4:18

Jamil El Sayeh /Rim Banna (Palestine) and Sarah Jane Morris (UK)

3.   Same Song / Kadifes                                                                                      5:05

Ulviyeh Arsehit / Mikhalis Tterlikkas (Cyprus) and Katia Cardenal (Nicaragua)

4.  I Go to the Top of the Hill / A’lyadi                                                                 4:01

Eiad Mdah / Esmaeel Mdah (Syria) and Natacha Atlas (UK/Egypt)

5. Lonely Traveler / La enorme distancia                                                           4:53

Amalio Martinez / Leonor Almanza (Mexico) and Mimi Goese (USA)

6.  There Is No Future Here / Mulana                                                                 3:30

Mustafa Bahia / Mahmoud Gania (Marocco) and Eva Dahlgren (Sweden)

7. A place for you / Karyo                                                                                    4:48 

Abdul Rashid Farash / Rukhsana Murtaza (Kashmir) and Correo Aereo (USA)

8. Sorrow of My Eyes / Amor eterno                                                                  6:15

Daniel Bujord Delgado / Nidia Edith Lorea (Mexico) and East Hill Singers (USA)

9.   Garden of Love / Kar Sa Myon                                                                     4:16 

Rukhsana Murtaza / Abdul Rashid Farash (Kashmir) and Morten Harket (Norway)

10. Memory Lost / Gypsy horse                                                                         5:16

Rim Banna / Jamil El Sayeh (Palestine) and Sheila Kay Adams (USA)

11. I Love My Country                                                                                         5:00

Bi-Communal Choir for Peace in Cyprus