Rachid Taha - Diwân (1998)

Rachid Taha is an incredibly talented and versatile Franco-Algerian rock-raï artist, born in Oran, Algeria (1958) but having grown up in the dark "traboules" (tiny streets of the old city) of Lyon, France. He's often attributed the epithet "rock-beur" (a pun mixing rocker and "beur", i.e. second generation migrant) and his albums truthfully reflect that. Diwân, Taha's fourth solo album, differs from his previous releases in that it contains less rock music and features more traditional arabic instruments and arrangements. Many of the songs are about the founding fathers of raï music, and the lyrics are in Arabic and French. The music is very uplifting and is one of my favourites in the modern arab-oriental genre. You can find out a lot more about Rachid Taha and his releases here. Highly recommended!

I would also recommend 1,2,3 Soleil, a live album he did together with Faudel and Khaled, both also raï masters. Another interesting detail I just discovered: Diwân, as well as Taha's latest album Tekitoi?, was produced by Steve Hillage - a great artist whom I know from his superb 1978 psychedelic guitar album Green which, incidentally, you can find on one of the b-logs on the right (I can't remember which one, sorry).

Tracks

1. Ya Rayah (6:27)
2. Ida (7:03)
3. Habina (4:34)
4. Bent Sahra (7:13)
5. Ach Adani (6:09)
6. El H'Mame (7:00)
7. Enti Rahti (7:28)
8. Menfi (5:58)
9. Bani Al Insane (6:15)
10. Malheureux Toujours (5:05)
11. Aiya Aiya (6:13)

Total time: 1:09:25

Rachid_Taha_Diwân_192.rar (Updated link!)

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, May 16, 2006