Born out of the cabarets, brothels, and bars in the seaside district of Oran in Algeria, raÃ¯ is an Arabic musical reaction to rock & roll and disco. The differences are evident in the beat and

Rough Guide to Rai

Born out of the cabarets, brothels, and bars in the seaside district of Oran in Algeria, raÃ¯ 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
Country USA
Brand World Music Network
Manufacturer World Music Network
Binding Audio CD
ItemPartNumber RGNET 1100 CD
Model RGNET 1100 CD
UnitCount 1
UPCs 605633110029
EANs 0605633110029
ReleaseDate 2002-10-14

Rough Guide to Rai