World Discoveries, CD Review >>
North Africa: land of the Berbers, Taureges and Arabs, as well as other groups... a place so dominated by Arab/Islamic culture that the music usually sounds more of what we think of as Middle Eastern than what we think of as African. But this is physically, most definitely, still Africa, and some black African culture does penetrate in some places: though outside influence on the region's music is more likely to come from Europe in the form of electronic post-disco or 'techno' music, other influences are also evident, such as Cuban and reggae.
Musicians and disc jockeys in dance clubs around the world are listening to each other more and more, and in some cases are remixing each other's songs: hence the entire 'groove' series in Putumayo, of which NORTH AFRICAN GROOVE is a part.
Many of the singers and musicians on NORTH AFRICAN GROOVE no longer live in their cities or even countries of origin. Some have moved to Paris, several have moved to Cairo. Both cities boast a cosmopolitan atmosphere where people can more easily experiment with new sounds.
The most popular musical style to come out of North Africa in the last three years is Rai, which originated in Algeria and quickly spread to nearby Morocco, then to France and the rest of the world.
Rai's most famous and popualr singer/songwriter is Khaled, who moved to France and evolved his music to a point that after 20 years it hardly sounded North African at all.
Long-time fans will be delighted to find that here Ya-Rai Khaled has returned to his old form: still modern, some hip hop and electronic influence, but with strong echoes of Algeria.
Many of the artists on NORTH AFRICAN GROOVE sound like they have been listening to Rai and blending it with local styles, as well as favorite styles from outside of North Africa such as the previously mentioned Latin (especially Cuban) and reggae.
I loved Rai star Cheb Mami's 'Veins Habibi': is that an oud playing the lead instead of an electric guitar mixed with a very funky bass guitar? Perfect!
Cut 7 features Cheb Jilani from Libya, the only modern song I've ever heard from a Libyan.
Many music fans in Latin America have fallen in love with Putumayo's Arabic releases, hearing the common ground between the musics of north Africa, Spain and Cuba. North Africans have been responding in kind, actually traveling to Cuba to record.
Cross-cultural fusion continues at an increasingly rapid pace as NORTH AFRICAN GROOVE proves.
As Putumayo's cds are fairly easy to obtain anywhere in the USA, NORTH AFRICAN GROOVE will most likely open up many eyes and ears to the new sounds of North Africa - and that's a good thing for everybody.
06/01/05 >> go there
