Customer Reviews

Rough Guide to North African Cafe

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This CD marks a new trend in the recent releases of the 'Rough Guides' series of World Music CD. Drawing upon artists from across Arabic-speaking North Africa, it provides a very cool, atmospheric sound. It's almost as if you're having a cup of coffee (qahwa) in Cairo, Marrakech, Oran or Tunis. All the names that you would expect are here, from the soulful Kabyle of Akli D to Smadj's techno-'oud remix to the Nubian beats of Abdel Gadir Salim. Theres also some new favorite's, like the Corsican/Arabic rock of Les Boukakes, the light melodic vocals of singer Akim el Sikameya, and the unique simsimiyya playing of Egypt's El Tanbura Ensemble. Andalusian influences are strong, from Cheb Balowski's Gypsy-tinged 'El Dia' to Barrio Chino's 'El Salam,' recalling Spain's centuries of Moorish rule. Perhaps more surprising is the inclusion of Sahabat Akkiraz, who's beautifully haunting voice draws upon the rich heritage of her Turkish homelands. In the end, this is a CD that calls to mind the rich, ambient moods of North Africa. Appropriately enough, it ends with the thoroughly enjoyable 'La Foule' by Tarik. Listening to this CD will call to mind all the excitement and atmosphere of the streets of Alexandria, the cafes of Oran, and the markets of Khartoum. It's an excellent CD, and easily one of my favorite releases in the 'Rough Guides' series. It also nicely complements the more recently released 'Rough Guide to Arabic Cafe,' and I suggest buying the two together. Just trust me on this, you'll get about two hours worth of magnificent Arabic music. Can't go wrong there.

Though this is a good "cafe" selection, good backround music, with a lot of good music in its own right, the title is misleading. It seems to imply a traditional North African cafe, with all the traditional music you might find there. I'm sure that's not the point of this album, but as the liner notes point out, "cafe" music originally came from France. So, for this album they seem to search for all the French or European influenced "North African" music they can - or really any music at all. There's nothing wrong with that, really, but I am something of a purist. There are no traditional ensembles, little oud playing, or classical Arabic music. Barrio Chino, for example, are interesting, but they are based in France, and perform French/Spanish/Algerian music. Many of the artists are based in France or Spain - and that's fine, but it's not as if there's a lack of traditional north African performers. Most of these artists are connected to Algeria, specifically.

Only three tracks are disappointing; Les Boukakes, who play rock music with guitar solos, Makiodo, who play an electronic, quite imaginary North African song, and Akim El Sikameya, whose track is basically French jazz. That said however, there is some good music. Akli D's track, the first track, is particularely good, with strong Arabic and Berber roots. Abdel Gadir Salim's track is very soulful and distinctly Sudanese, with it's dual Arabic/African influences (if you like his music, I recomend the album Ceasefire), and El Tambura play an unusual track, with an Ancient Egyptian tradition. Mahmoud Fadl, from southern Egypt, plays a short track that brings to mind the desert sands, Orient Expressions has a Turkish track, and Les Orientales have the closest thing here to Arabic classical music.

If you just want some good music, you'll probably like this a lot, but if you're looking for traditional North African music, get the rough guides to Morocco, Arabic Cafe, Bellydance Cafe or Bellydance instead, or listen to samples of this before you get it.