Arabic Groove

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 12, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Putumayo World Music
• ASIN: B00005J6WU
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,603 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Music > World Music > Africa > Algeria
  #1 in	Music > World Music > Middle East > Lebanon
  #1 in	Music > World Music > Africa > Egypt

• This item is part of The Putumayo Grooves Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
While not yet part of mainstream American music, Middle Eastern music, as evidenced by the rise of Algerian pop star Khaled in France, has sidled up to other club music forms in the hot spots of Paris, London, and elsewhere. To that end, Putumayo's Arabic Groove brings us up to date with their compilation, a jubilant sonic party rooted in ancient musical tradition and structure, steeped in the au courant flavors of hip-hop, R&B, and other urban western forms. Lebanese, Egyptian, Moroccan, and Algerian artists such as former Londoner Natacha Atlas (who has been featured with both Transglobal Underground and Jah Wobble) contribute 11 songs which lend themselves to sensual dance, exotic drink, and glamorous gatherings of multicultural hipsters. Traditional Arabic instruments such as the flute and oud blend with guitar, bass, and drums, laying down plenty of funk, fun, and full-on booty-shaking rhythms. A heady high point is the disco-nomad jam "Leiley," a Transglobal Underground remix of a hit by Lebanese songstress Dania. Arabic Groove is a feast of a sampler. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mid-Eastern Dance Beats!, March 5, 2002

By	Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This CD focuses on dancey and pop styles from various Middle Eastern and North African musicians, and I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer diversity I found on this CD. Egyptian pop music is placed side by sid with Algerian Rai and even more exotic styles. It is truely an excellent CD, especially if you are already familar with Cairo pop music or Algerian Rai. The music on this CD is incredibly modern and dancable.
Big names, sch as Hamid el-Shaeri, Amr Diab, Natacha Atlas, Dania and the like make some excellent contributions to this CD. Hamid el-Shaeri's song alone is worth buying this CD for, and Natacha Atlas outdoes herself on Kidda. And thats not even getting into the incredibly beautiful remixes of Sawt el-Atlas and Dania.
And, of course, theres also some Algerian Rai music on this CD, though not as much as one would expect. Khaled, the King of Rai himself, presents a excellent track, "Mauvais Sang", which is particularly moving. Theres also a track by Fadela & Sahraoui and a track from Cheb Tarik. However, this CD is very eclectic, and also covers Moroccan pop, Cairo/Arab pop, and styles even further afield.
Over all, this is an excellent CD, and I stongly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys Arabic or North African music, especially Rai or Cairo pop styles.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For beginners who want to explore Middle Eastern music., April 30, 2005

By	Seb Jarakian "sfphotorama.com" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Arabic Groove is a great compilation to start you off into the wonderful and exotic world of Middle Eastern infused dance, electronica, downtempo and chill out. Putumayo World Music released this collection back in 2001 but I think it's still quite fresh for someone who recently discovered the intoxicating Middle Eastern beats probably on a Buddha Bar CD or on another similar collection. The cool thing about the CD is that the artists are listed with their respective countries beside them so you can tell what's what and where each artist hails from. The last track by Cheb Tarik called L'histoire is a an awesome disco/rai fusion of a song. Very catchy and great to dance to. It samples an old Kool & The Gang track which I can't quite figure out but it's very fun! Other songs on this CD include Amarain by Amr Diab. A fun tune that has been featured in Buddha Bar and countless other rip offs as well. There's Natacha Atlas from Transglobal Underground a great band from the UK from the early to mid/late '90s singing Kidda. This track is a bit mellow the sensual and entrancing voice of the great Natacha Atlas. Definitely worth checking out her solo releases.

SJ
www.sfphotorama.com

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So FUNky!, June 19, 2001

By	MELISSA CALDWELL (COLUMBUS, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This is a fun, funky, totally danceable CD. I love it and have had it in my CD player since it arrived. Some of the tunes I was already familiar with, such as Amr Diab's Amarain, and Natacha Atlas' Kidda. There are artists here that are new to me, and I'm looking forward to discovering their releases. My favorite tracks on Arabic Groove are Galbi, which has a driving back beat and a hip hop feel, and Heli Meli, a song that incorporates traditional rhythms and instruments, as well as some traditional sounding backing vocals by female singers.

The packaging is great, with photos, lengthy bios and descriptions of the songs. These things, along with some English translation of the lyrics, help me to decide if a piece is appropriate to bellydance to.

While this CD can skip from one track to the next just like a regular CD, when played straight through, there are no breaks because each song flows into the one following. It's perfect party music, put it in the player and let it go, and the dancing doesn't have to stop.