There’s an undeniable allure to Souad Massi’s vocals and guitar, yet the Algerian-born singer-songwriter’s music escapes simple definition. What might at first seem a straightforward contemporary folk sound swells into a heady mix of American, European and Middle Eastern influences. Holding it all together is Massi’s reflective voice, whether she’s singing in Arabic, French or Kabyle, in a nod to her Berber roots. It brings to life a worldly-wise body of work that’s brimming with pathos and lush with pastoral energy without losing any sense of directness.