Search - Safy Boutella, Nitin Sawhney, Sahraoui & Fadela :: Arabesque Tlata 3

Not what I was looking for

Grunt Hog | Vancouver, Canada | 11/07/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoyed the first Arabesque compilation so I thought I'd give this follow-up effort a try. I was disappointed to find this one is very inferior, at least for my tastes.



I felt the original Arabesque struck a perfect balance between loungey electronic chillout music and traditional Arabic instruments and musical styles. Tlata 3, however, veers away from the electronic, dubby elements and focuses on real instruments and singing, which wasn't really what I was looking for when I bought this (I miss the techno!!!) In particular, I found the focus on the male vocals very jarring, and the music sounded overall disjointed and uninteresting to my western ears.



To sum up, it's probably a good sampler of traditional Arab music and my inability to appreciate it likely stems from a certain amount of cultural closed-mindedness on my part; my only point is just don't buy this expecting it to be similar to the original Arabesque."

Christagau's review informs us

jj | Istanbul Turkey | 09/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The third ..of Algerian-born London restaurateur Momo's world comps - Maghreb survey, leads with "N'Sel Fik," the rai classic Chaba Fadela and Cheb Sahraoui released 20 years ago. It also leans on Cheb Khaled's arty 1988 crossover Kutché, and in general starts roots and goes soundtrack. Shares a great hit by a Spanish nanny from Sudan with London DJ Hamid Zagzoule's 2001 Tea in Marrakech. Momo is drawn to diffusion. Natacha Atlas, the arranged marriage of Cheb Mami and Nitin Sawhney."

Pass!

Arlo Vortex | Third Stone | 12/13/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This one has vocals on almost every track. I personally find that kind of vocal work irritating after about 5 minutes. I love the Arabian instruments, rhythms and trance bass like Arabesque 1 had. Go ahead and buy this used if you want and see if you disagree. You may end up getting the one I had."