Rough Guide to Rai

Born out of the cabarets, brothels, and bars in the seaside district of Oran in Algeria, raï is an Arabic musical reaction to rock & roll and disco. The differences are evident in the beat and lyrics, which are less polite and more sexual. While this collection culls 12 tracks from a time when the grassroots music was sold on cheap--and cheaply produced--cassettes, there are bright spots. Cheikha Remitti's more traditional sound is a welcome respite from the cheesier productions. Malik's "N Touma" uses samples to create a pleasantly edgy collage. The funkiest track comes from Cheba Nouria, whose "Consulat" boasts electro groove and a bit of reggae syncopation. Cheb Mami and Cheb Khaled tracks sound dated, but they provide enlightening and entertaining comparisons with both artists' more recent works. Though this is a fine overview of the music's early years, curious fans should explore more sophisticated recent efforts by the two gents. --Tad Hendrickson