We've had to wait no less than nine years for a successor to 'Poulina' and with 'Alik' this band from Paris' 18th district seems to want to go down a different musical path. Chaabi and gnawa disappear into the background and are replaced with hints of soukous ('Résidence'), French chanson ('La Rose Valse') and even some Rolling Stones (a poor cover of 'Sympathy For The Devil'). With 'Alik' Orchestre National De Barbès fails miserably; the album is a lot less interesting than predecessor 'Poulina' and far removed from their unforgettable live album 'En Concert'. A disappointment!