Hard to think of a better way to kick off 2003 than with soothing, celebratory words of peace from one of Egypt's greatest and most gifted pop composers. Mohamed Mounir came on the scene in the 1970's parlaying the spirituality and sadness of the lost kingdom of Nubia into energized youth pop: al jeel. Since then, he's emerged as a major force in Arabic music, drawing on so many sources of inspiration that he is increasingly difficult to categorize.

Earth… Peace is a rich, gushing, orchestral set of songs full of tradition and modernity. Its anthem-like centerpiece, "Madad," delves into Sufi chant tradition, one of the richest wells of ecstatic music in all of Islam. The song's lyrics decry the "spilling of blood" while invoking both the Koran and the Virgin Mary. With this message and Mounir's clear, soulful voice, the song builds to a rich crescendo. The same grand, spiritual earnestness works a little less well on "Salatun ala al Mustafa," where the melody is oddly reminiscent of "Onward Christian Soldiers," although the beat is a good deal more animated.

Animating the beat is something Mounir handles masterfully. On some songs--like "Salli ya Waheb al Safa" with its open, acoustic soundscape, or "Salatun fi Sirri wa Gahri"with its featured mix of violin, oud, and qanoun (zither)--there's sizzling undertow of fast, drum-and-beat, electronic rhythm. The arranging keeps the emphasis on the traditional instruments, but that busy, modern subscript transforms these songs into smart, subtle pop. Best of all is the sizzling "Salatullah ya Mawlay," where the energized beat and orchestral swell, and the force of Mounir's male chorus come together in an ecstatic union. Mounir sings in pure, passionate tones that both calm and uplift, making his one of the most accessible and universal voices in Arabic pop today. The album concludes with a German version of "Madad," and three instrumental remixes of earlier tracks. "Salatullah ya Mawlay" should work particularly well in the clubs. Mohamed Mounir has received scant attention in the West, but if he keeps doing work like this, that should change. Earth… Peace offers a dose of courage and hope at the start of a year full of both promise and danger.

Contributed by: Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org