Customer Reviews

Diwan

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Diwan" is a really rich album - a great way to introduce others to rai music without losing itself to Western studio overproduction. Some other readers' comments seem confusing to me. 6 minutes too long for a song? Obviously that person isn't familiar with traditional Arabic music where songs can go on for what seem like eons. Of course, "Ya Rayah" is the anchor to this album - the one song (if any of Taha's) that anyone would know, but the other's are just as good. I enjoy the change in tempo and intensity of "Habina", and the good times that "Ida" seems to evoke. Rachid's voice is raw and unmodified, which makes the songs all the more genuine. "Diwan" is definitely a keeper, and also is his most consistent album.

Having listened to mostly traditional North African music, my first exposure to Rachid (and urban Algerian music) was having heard 'Ya Rayah' on a local world music radio show. I absolutely had to have this cd after hearing that cut, and now I listen to the entire cd at least once a day. It is impossible for me to sit still when the music is playing. Rachid Rocks!

I rarely enjoy "blends" of roots music with modern, urban music, but I have to make an exception for Rachid Taha. I really enjoy the enthusiasm and joy he exudes on this album, and the combination of traditional and contemporary works great here, in my opinion. He's singing in the Arabic tradition, which might sound "off-key" to western ears, but I really think the album deserves enough attention to learn to understand and enjoy this tradition.

I had no idea what to expect when I purchased "Diwan" in cassette format several years ago. It had been highly recommended in the hi-tech mag "Wired", and, being interested in world music, I decided to take a chance.

I've now just about worn it out, having listened to it countless times. With "Diwan" in my pocket I go out for a brisk two-mile walk every evening and this guy rocks! And I rock as I walk, snapping my fingers to the infectious beat. It's fantastic music and I defy anyone to keep still once they hear it!

I am not of Arabian descent but having lived in Arab lands for more then half of my life, I know the sounds well of different Arabic music and am quite intimate with the culture. I first heard of Rachid Taha on the 1,2,3 Soleils live album with Faudel and Khaled, A great live recording, The only weakness I felt was Rachid, his music does not fit well within live settings.
In collaboration with his producer Steve Hillage , i think thats the name..this record is very classical arabic music mixed with a hint of western influences. It relies a lot on the Industrial groove sound with big thumping basses but middle eastern melodies.
Rachid's album after this, "Medina" is 90 degrees on this one. It is the same but the opposite. There is more western influence on their and eastern snippets while here its the opposite.
this one,Its very interesting to listen to, and though Taha's vocal prowess is really nothing to be proud of, the way his music is, its quite something. Ive heard lots of middle eastern artists and people with the same sound. If anyone will take newer sounds of middle eastern music to new heights. It is Rahid Taha. He brings in a very eclectic fresh sound to middle eastern music which really honestly purely traditionaly sounds the same all the time.

if you want to see what his next album "Medina" is like, check out "Barra Barra" the track from the movie ,Black Hawk down.

Rachid Taha is easily one of my favorite Franco-Algerian artists in recent years. I fell in love with his song "Ya Rayah" and went out and bought this CD immediately afterwards. The haunting exoticism of the first track alone should be enough to get anyone to buy it, but theres far more to this CD than just that. In songs such as "Bent Sahra" and others, he weaves together his lyrics so well that it truely speaks to the heart. And the synthesized instrumentals are equally impressive. However, theres something more to Rachid Taha than this as well. Rachid Taha has an ecclectic style that, while certainly drawing on his Algerian background, goes far beyond Rai, East-West Fusions or anything else. Rachid Taha defies all attempts to pigeon hole him, and I think that is one thing to keep in mind with this album. Rachid Taha simply is a superb musician, and you'll be alot more comfortable listening to him than figuring out what he is like.

I first heard the opening song of this album back in, oh, 1996. Ya Rayah, with its mixture of deep percussion and gravely vocals instantly hit me as something new, exciting, and plain awesome. I picked up the CD without having listened to the rest of it, and kept the first track on repeat for several days. And what a song! Ya Rayah is easily the reason to buy this CD, if nothing else. And while I'm up at 2 AM, I might as well point out that the rest of the tracks, while good and in some cases great, are a bit loud. They've kept me up. But, there's always that sensation, that impulse to jump up from your chair and start shakin' that belly and dancing humorous jigs. Buy the CD, and interest your wife in belly dancing classes. You'll love it, I guarantee.

Before I bought this CD, I think will be interesting listen a mix of rai and techno-music, but was really much..because is a excellent mix of etnical and techno music but a clear influence of the rai fathers (Cheb Mami and Khaled). Something more you can dance it and feel the music in your body.

This is a great CD. The first track, "Ya Rayah," is especially captivating, mixing traditional playing with a modern drive. The rest of the songs are also good, although the pace slows down quite a bit. The previous reviewer is wrong---he's not singing off-key, he's singing in Middle Eastern scales, and it certainly works as far as my ears are concerned.

Whenever I play this album, it has to be on maximum volume, and i am forced to dance around. I found it by chance in the dance section, and it just jumped out at me. I love the mixture of north african drumming and electronica, and it blends together with the skill of a master. At first, one thinks it will be traditional, but then later in the album, various instruments are infused into the beat. Wonderful!