Idir, a musical superstar hailing from Algeria is credited as being one of forces behind the surge of urban ra?Ø music. Moroccan Chaabi singer Najat Aatabou has changed the face of Moroccan music with her powerful lyrics and compositions in both French and English. We caught up with both artists recently to speak about their trip to America
Continue reading A Night in the Maghreb – Idir and Najat Aatabou at Lincoln Center
There are few musicians around more polished than Khaled but if you have ever wanted to peel away the sophistication and the years to reveal the raw, young heart of north African rock and roll, this is your moment
Continue reading V/A – 1970′s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground
Tinariwen are one of only two bands to have their own Minister of Propaganda. Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav is now better known for his MTV show where very driven young ladies battle to win his attention. In contrast, the rather more earnest Issa Dicko is
concerned with the survival of the Tamasheq (Tuareg) people. Tinariwen is more of a popular movement than a band
Currently on his UK tour promoting, just enough time to check out his pre-Cru album
Diwân 2 sees Rachid Taha reclaiming the older tunes of his childhood –but not without occasional touches of his angry punk persona surfacing just in time to avoid nostalgia
The events of 1492 are surprisingly present for Maurice el Médioni. Up until his mother’s generation, the family still spoke the languages of El Andalus (Arabic and Spanish) in their home in Algeria. Some part of Maurice el Médioni was left behind in Spain when the Jews were expelled, just as 460 years later, he would leave something of himself behind in Algeria.
Continue reading Maurice el Medioni – Bringing It All Back Home
The audience bounded out into the torrential rain on a freezing Brighton night warmed by the Malian sunshine from the country’s two most unlikely musical superstars Amadou and Mariam. Their joyous set of songs ended an evening full of poignancy, humanity and, above all, great music
Continue reading African Soul Rebels II – The Dome, Brighton, February 21 ’06
The packaging of this compilation, produced by World Music Network for Oxfam, spookily reminiscent of a guide book, gives a clue as to the contents – a scrupulously comprehensive geographical survey of Arabic music, which takes in the major traditional and contemporary currents from Morocco to Iraq.
