Customer Reviews

Sahara

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

 

 

Recently, I went on a desert tour of the Tatooine region made famous by Star Wars I and IV. (The Life of Brian, too). When I got to Tunisia, I couldn't find any English-speaking safari tours, so I hopped a French tour with a bunch of people from Paris and Geneva. All they listened to in the jeep was Alabina, and as soon as I got back home I bought a copy of "Sahara." The backing group, Los Ninos de Sara, is very good especially if you like the Gypsy Kings, but lead singer Ishtar's voice is a beautiful and exotic addition.

The group's variability in song styles, from slow French ballads to upbeat salsa, makes this CD very listenable without becoming boring. Alabina follows the tradition of other French groups like Mano Negra, who also sing songs with influences ranging from South American to Arabic. My favorite song on the album tends to shift with time: just as I get tired of one song I become fond of another. I started out liking Lolole, the cover of the Disco-age Santa Esmeralda hit "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," but have since migrated to Sevillano which has a nice background tune although the main melody is a little weak, and Loli, Lolita Lola which is quite catchy. I really like how Alabina re-does its own songs in various song styles and I've ripped the songs from this and my other Alabina CDs so I can listen to the MP3s in an order that contrasts the different versions. My current favorite sequence is Ya Mama Tu M'As Tant Donne, a slow French ballad sung solo by Ishtar, followed by Ya Mama Ya Mama, the same song transformed into a Gypsy Kings-like tropical beat. The sequence is completed by the Salsa version of Ya Mama Ya Mama, found on L'Essential Alabina.

Others have commented that "Sahara" contains a lot of material found on other albums, but since it was my first purchase I have this problem in reverse. I do wish that the group would include their lyrics on the CD liner notes, since I have no idea what I'm saying while bellowing along to the music in my car.

This CD has 12 songs, 6 of them are in the Album II. Is a french version

This is a great mix of Middle Eastern, Spanish and Gypsy music with lyrics in Spanish, Arabic, French and English. Very danceable!

I found this CD at a the Belly Dancer of the Universe competition in LA. Pop in this CD and find yourself tapping your toes or dancing around the house. Use with caution when driving! I enjoy the mix of cultural influences. True world music. Perky and fun for the most part, with a little soulfulness mixed in.

I had the good fortune while I was in Italy over the summer to buy a compilation album with LOLI LOLITA LOLA on it....becoming very intrigued by this song, I finally purchased Alabina's "Sahara" album in Spain. I really love the exotic, moving beats of this group, and the lead vocalist has a beautiful voice! Tracks 1 - 5 are excellent.... the rest is fairly mediocre. Nonetheless, I really enjoy this album, and recommend it for anyone who is looking for something a little different.

I thought that it wasn't very authentic but I love tracks 1 and 8