The album Desert Wind, released in 1989, marked the peak of Ofra Haza’s international breakthrough and was her first album to be recorded entirely in the United States. This major production, featuring names like Arif Mardin and Thomas Dolby, created a unique ethno-pop sound that propelled Haza onto the American Billboard charts—an unprecedented achievement for an Israeli artist at the time. Behind the tracks were moving personal stories: “Slave Dream” was inspired by a stirring visit to historical slave routes in Brazil, while “Fata Morgana” features an extraordinary family moment—the voice of her mother, Shoshana Haza, was recorded for the song via a trans-Atlantic phone call as she was unable to reach the studio in Los Angeles. With over half a million copies sold, the album cemented Haza’s status as a global icon and paved the way for her subsequent work in the world music genre.
“Even though the record is aimed at the disco lights, its producers managed to transcend a simplistic commercial formula and achieve a unique, independent quality with the excellent Haza. It is no longer a gimmick. The direction is clearly West, but the heart definitely remains in the East” (Yossi Kharsonsky, Ma’ariv, November 3, 1989).
“First, delight in the packaging. Haza is beautiful, soft, mysterious… then, discover our own local names in the list of musicians. And only then, place it under the laser beam, and enjoy the bell-like voice of the pride of Hatikva Neighborhood…” (Amos Oren, Yediot Ahronot, 1989).
“‘Desert Wind’ is an album of intersecting musical cultures, Yemenite melodies, and a vibrant, danceable Western rhythm. It might sound strange, but this exotic mix is excellent. Ofra’s fresh and vibrato-rich voice dominates the entire mix with authority. Ofra has reason to feel good. Rating: Very Good, 4 Stars” (Paul Davies, Q Magazine, England, 1989).
