Tékitoi [ENHANCED] [LIMITED EDITION]

Rachid Taha

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 30, 2004)
• Original Release Date: November 30, 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition
• Label: Wrasse Records
• ASIN: B00069FKLO
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #189,086 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Africa > Algeria

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Following up on the excellent Made in Medina, Algerian-born singer Rachid Taha returns with the equally impressive Tekitoi, his fifth album. Taha has long mixed North African rai and chaabi with alternative rock, electronic sounds (Brian Eno co-writes one song), techno rhythms and a smattering of other styles. But instead of turning these diverse sounds into a cacophonic bowl of mush, Taha and longtime collaborator Steve Hillage balance muscular rhythms, a panoramic feeling of space, and Taha's own rock star leanings--never has this fusion been better illustrated than here on "Safi (Pure)." Taha also shows a wicked sense of humor with his ironic and somewhat tongue-in-cheek version of the Clash's "Rock The Casbah," taking some of the funk out while adding strings (by Egyptian Strings Ensemble) that push up the kitsch value. This album and its maker's many fans prove that not everyone of Middle Eastern origin is a conservative or a fundamentalist. For Taha, though, it's simply another boundary breaking effort. –-Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, if not THE best album of 2004, December 21, 2004

By	JoJo (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Rachid is a master...this album is fantastic from start to finish. Highlights include the INCREDIBLY funky "Lli fat mat!" and "Nah'seb" as well as the title track and, of course, "Rock el Casbah." Two cool bonus tracks are included, one being "Ya Rayah" which was on his album "Diwan" and the Spanish language version of "Voila voila," which, after viewing the very cool DVD that comes with this album, you will understand its inclusion. This guy is amazing, and belongs in the same league with Bob Dylan and Caetano Veloso. He should be a statesman!! Bravo, Rachid.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rachid Taha is at his best!, April 11, 2005

By	Sufy "Sufy" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

Rachid Taha is truly innovative. He may not have the same voice qualities as Khaled, the King of Rai, or Cheb Mami, the Prince of Rai. However, he compensates the listener with truly unique music that carries the signature of his wounded voice. All tracks here are great and very consistent. The music is well done. Most lyrics convey a political message and written by Rachid, and also composed by him with the production of Steve Hillage, the Prince of Arabia. Rachid's music is so unique making it impossible to classify as rai, techno, rock, pop, etc. I classify it as Rachidmania. If you get the DVD, it basically documents his 2004 tour in Mexico.

5.0 out of 5 stars great rhythm, October 16, 2008

By	Nora SP "honeycombkid" (Katy, TX) - See all my reviews

I heard his song from a movie Something New. I decided to buy the whole CD and I love it. Even my son (6 yrs) loves his songs. But my husband called one of the songs (the one from a movie) "belly dancing song". LOL My son and I always play his songs in the car. Don't know what the songs mean though. We just love the sounds.