Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 16, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: World Music Network
• ASIN: B00018BOSS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,067 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > World Music > Africa > Morocco

Track Listings

1. Zeye Meyel - Nass Marrakech

2. Baba Aadi - Jil Jilala

3. Bay-Bay - Najm El Farah Essafi

4. Leilaa Lill - Bnet Marrakech

5. Touria - Mohamed Amenzou

6. Mahmouna - Nass El Ghiane

7. Yedidim Hiou Zehirim - Emil Zrihan

8. Hijra (Trad Mix) - U-Cef

9. Taala Fine Ghadi - Fatna Bent El Houcine

10. Lala Aisha - Hassan Hakmoun

11. haliou Loudid Lamimtou - Mustapha Bourgogne

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sample of Maghrebi Music Today, July 7, 2008

By 

Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco (Audio CD)

Although not as well known to the wider world as, say, neighboring Algeria's rai and Kabyle Berber musics, Morocco is still a major power house in the Arabic-speaking world. In fact, pop singer Samira Said is Moroccan. But this CD goes further into Morocco's musical roots, revealing everything from the trance music of the Gnawa brotherhood to cutting edge Arabic electronica to the rootsy urban chaabi. Really, as far as samplers go, this is a pretty good mix of Moroccan music.

The selections definitely lean more towards the traditional (or at least, neo-traditional) and less toward the pop, and the compilers seem to have knowledge of REAL Moroccan music. A definite plus there. The tracks include big names like Nass Marrakech, Nass el Ghiwane, Jil Jilala and Bnet Marrakech. Contemporary Gnawa trance music is very well represented by the great Hassan Hakmoun, as well as remix artist U-Cef. Jewish folk singer Emil Zrihan showcases the country's lesser known minority. And theres a wonderful track by Fatna bent el Houcine as well. All in all, this is a very authentic taste of Maghrebi music, and one thats readily available to boot! So pull up your bornous and grab a cup of mint tea and bowl of couscous - this is the next best thing to actually visiting Rabat, Casablanca or Fes.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, compelling music, July 29, 2008

By 

George Banjo "George Banjo" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco (Audio CD)

One of the best of the Rough Guides, this is all excellent music. Moroccan music turns out to be more than just Arabic music. Here we have two Arabic/Andalusian tracks, from the Arabic classical melhoun of Mohamed Amenzou to the Moroccan Jewish cantor of Emil Zrihan. There are two Berber tracks; the women's group Bnet Marakesh, who sound almost sub-Saharan African, and Fatna Bent El Houcine; two tracks of the polular chaabi style, the modern chaabi of Najm El Farah Essafi and the entirely acoustic, driving drums and violin of Mustapha Bourgogne. Then there are four tracks or gnawa, including gnawa rap, the beautiful, cosmopolitan sound of Nass Marakesh, the African sound of Hasan Hakmoun, and Nass el Ghinawe, as well as the famous group (aparently), Jila Jilala.

There is a striking variety, especially if you listen to it a few times. Most of the music is very traditional, and most of the tracks rather long (hence the presence of only eleven tracks). If you are a fan of Arabic music, you musat get this. (It is compiled by the same compiler of the rough guides to the Sahara, Rai, and Arabesque.)

One thing annoyed me, though. When looking at the discography, to try and find more Moroccan music, I found that almost no music by any of these artists is available in the US - none of the original albums from which these tracks are taken. Anyone know of any Moroccan music available here?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nice assortment, February 6, 2011

By 

Phylis B. Craig (Waldo, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco (Audio CD)

I was in Morocco over the winter break-I purchased one CD of Gwana music and wanted more samples. of the music I heard during my stay. This CD was exactly what I wanted.