Customer Reviews

Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco

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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.

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?

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.