Search - Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, Abdou :: Rough Guide to Rai

Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, Abdou
Rough Guide to Rai
Genres: International Music, Pop

Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
1. Ana aachki bahloul - Abdou
2. Lazrag saani - Cheb Mami
3. N'touma - Malik
4. Moul el bar - Cheb Zahouani
5. Moulay Ibrahim - Cheb Anouar
6. Guendouzi mama - Cheikha Remitti
7. Nediha gaouria - Bellemou
8. Consulat - Cheba Nouria
9. Shab el baroud - Cheba Zahouania
10. Menghirek entia fi dounia - Cheb Hasni
11. Ya loualid - Cheb Khaled
12. La verite - Fadela & Sahraoui

CD Details

All Artists: Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, Abdou, Malik, Cheb Zahouani, Cheb Anouar, Cheikha Remitti, Bellemou, Cheba Nouria, Cheba Zahouania, Cheb Hasni, Fadela & Sahraoui
Title: Rough Guide to Rai
Members Wishing: 4
Total Copies: 0
Label: World Music Network
Release Date: 10/14/2002
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style: Africa
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 605633110029

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Born out of the cabarets, brothels, and bars in the seaside district of Oran in Algeria, raï is an Arabic musical reaction to rock & roll and disco. The differences are evident in the beat and lyrics, which are less polite and more sexual. While this collection culls 12 tracks from a time when the grassroots music was sold on cheap--and cheaply produced--cassettes, there are bright spots. Cheikha Remitti's more traditional sound is a welcome respite from the cheesier productions. Malik's "N Touma" uses samples to create a pleasantly edgy collage. The funkiest track comes from Cheba Nouria, whose "Consulat" boasts electro groove and a bit of reggae syncopation. Cheb Mami and Cheb Khaled tracks sound dated, but they provide enlightening and entertaining comparisons with both artists' more recent works. Though this is a fine overview of the music's early years, curious fans should explore more sophisticated recent efforts by the two gents. --Tad Hendrickson

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CD Reviews

Excellent introduction to rai

Shantell Powell | Kitchener, ON, Canada | 11/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Rough Guide to Rai is the music of modern Algeria: politically-charge lyrics layered amongst Arabic instruments and beat-driven pop. You can think of it as the north African equivalent to reggae, unencumbered by the need to stick to 4:4 rhythms.The music ranges in sound from dancey pop to sweeping Egyptian orchestrals to breathy, intricate taqsims. The rhythms always take over, though.Once again, the Rough Guide series has put together an excellent compilation. This is a perfect introduction to the genre, although I can't help but notice the absence of Rachid Taha."

EVEN MY CATS LIKE IT!

brigid o'shaughnessy | San Francisco, California United States | 08/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"yeah, ok, my cats like everything, this is a very musical household, but seriously, they were getting a little bored of the same old arabesque cd's and were ready for something a little edgy and bold. this cd certainly fit the bill. the music is hard, biting, and yet retains it's uniqueness and rhthym. it reflects it's moroccan and arabic influences, but has a slight central asian feel to it that really makes it interesting. if you've ever considered stepping just outside the box, then the music of algeria is certainly worth a listen. my cats would definitely agree."

The Rebel Soul of Algeria

Zekeriyah | Chicago, IL | 10/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Few things are as quintessentially Maghrebi as Rai music. This compilation showcases the incredible variety of the modern Algerian sound, stretching back to the earliest pioneers of Rai music like Cheikha Remitti and going up to modern day legends like Khaled, Cheb Mami and the late Cheb Hasni (who was a hit across North Africa, despite not being as well known in the west as Khaled or Cheb Mami). All the big names are featured here. Theres the driving rhythms of Fadela and Sahraoui on "La Verite". The cross dressing pop star Abdou contributes a track, "Ana Aachki Bahloul". And even "Shab el Baroud," a song by Cheba Zahouania praising the Algerian mujahideen freedom fighters. This CD is an essential guide for understanding Rai music, the very heart and soul of Algeria. Anyone interested in Arabic music should definately go out and buy this CD. It's definately a different side of Algeria than that frequently featured on the news."

Awesome music, awesome compilation

George Banjo | Seattle, WA USA | 07/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is surely a thorough introduction to rai, and with excellent liner notes, but even if you don't care about the historical background and just want some good music, this is not to be missed.

There is a great variety in rai, which this album shows, but there are unifying features in most of the music. A very Arabic style of singing, with mostly Arabic sounding melodies, but with modern instruments (and from time to time some traditional ones mixed in) and a decidedly distinct rhythm, which has been said to be simialer to reggae or something. But more important than the influences and simialerities is the highly original nature of the music itself. It's clearly a whole genre of its own.

The first track had traditional style instruments and rhythm. The second, from the famous Cheb Mami, is very modern in style. It's followed by Malik, whose track N'Touma is rather unusual. The next track, by Cheb Zahouani, is a signature rai-sounding song, with a sense of sadness in the voice. (It features a flute playing a very Arabic melody; it's interesting to compare that flute to the flute in the track by Cheba Nouria, and then the traditional flute of Cheika Remitti.) Track 5 is one of the best, though there are so many good ones. It sounds very traditional, with a driving rythm. Cheika Remitti plays a very acoustic and traditional style, the precursor to rai, which has many parallels to the modern stly. Cheba Zahouania also contributes a compelling track, very traditional, with traditional drums and fiddles, and a repetitive melody with many verses. It's followed by Cheb Hasni, who was assasinated, and who has a very soulful voice, full of longing. There's a very good song by Cheb Khaled, a rough, low quality recording, follwed by a very electronic track about "the truth."

All of the artists are very well-known, but again, whether or not you know or care about rai at all, this is sure to be very appealing. No fan of Arabic music should miss this excellent collection."