Sound Travels to North Africa this week for a taste of Middle Eastern pop; a style known as Raï. Raï is a style that started in Oran, Algeria in the 1930s. Intrisically a fusion of East and West, it was born from French colonialism, North African Jewish music, Berber/Bedouin folk music ( Chaabi) and even vintage Andalusian music from Southern Spain. Initially, it appealed to the younger generation who had more modern views on traditional Islamic values and attitudes. Regional, secular, and religious drum patterns, melodies, and instruments were blended with Western electric instrumentation to make this very uniquely North African sound.
I got the week started with some cuts, here's what I played...
Cheikha Rimitti "C'est finiJ'en Ai Mare"
Cheb Tati "N'touma"
Malik Adouane "Shaft"
Rachid Taha "Rock The Casbah"