Various: Best of Algerian Rai (Arc/Elite)

 |   |  <1 min read

Khaled: Ya Taleb
Various: Best of Algerian Rai (Arc/Elite)

Experts in rai -- traditional Algerian popular music which has latterly incorporated rock and other Western styles -- may quibble about the title here, but certainly some of rai's most famous names are represented on this excellent introduction to this hypnotic, warm, vibrant and impassioned music.

Here are Khaled (the acknowledged "King of Rai"); Bellemou Messaoud (with Gana el Maghnaouri); the legendary Cheikha Rimitti who has been called "the Piaf of rai"; Cheb Hasni; Fadela; Akil and Cheb Aissa from the new generation, and others.

Translations aren't given, but the booklet does offer a good synposis of each artist and their importance.

Mesmerisingly woozy music.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

Etoile De Dakar: Once Upon a Time in Senegal (Sterns/Southbound)

Etoile De Dakar: Once Upon a Time in Senegal (Sterns/Southbound)

There is not exactly a shortage of collections of African music from the Sixties and Seventies these days: Fela is well covered so are the rumba scene out of Zaire, the Rail Band from Mali, the... > Read more

Hossam Ramzy: Rock the Tabla (Arc Music)

Hossam Ramzy: Rock the Tabla (Arc Music)

With the kind of diverse guests only this acclaimed Egyptian percussion player could call on -- jazz drummers Billy Cobham and Manu Katche, A.R. Rahman (aka "the Mozart of Madras",... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE REGGAE QUESTIONNAIRE: Logan Bell of Katchafire

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE REGGAE QUESTIONNAIRE: Logan Bell of Katchafire

Elsewhere has long gone into bat for the reggae gifts of Katchafire who walk a canny line between righteous roots and pop-reggae without ever standing too close to the barbecue. They have... > Read more

Erina, Central Coast Australia: Bottling up the passion

Erina, Central Coast Australia: Bottling up the passion

When a micro-brewery is called Six String and the company logo is a guitar pick you do feel slightly stupid having to ask. “Ah, that’s my business partner Chris,” says... > Read more