[coll]: Rough Guide to Latin-Arabia
Reviewed by Sadie O., 11/13/06
Latin-Arabic crossover music of all sorts – some Arabic artists doing Latin-tinged numbers, some Latin artists involving North African influences or musicians. The Latin-Arabic musical connection is very strong, due to the Moorish occupation of Spain for several hundred years, during which time they introduced guitars and hand percussion.
No FCCs. I like 2 and 5 best (both major hits in Europe/Arabia).
1. ** 4:08; Salamat-Mambo El Soudani
swingy midtempo hip-wiggler from Nubian percussionist. Horn driven, with nice piano solo towards end.
2. **** 5:09; Amr Diab-Ya Nour El Ein
solo male vocal intro, elements of flamenco and cumbia. Song was a massive hit for both Egyptian Diab and pan-Mediterranean Alabina.
3. *** 4:38; Cheb Sahraoui-Je Suis Naïf
midtempo bounce by Algerian Rai artist and pianist. Nice horns, beautiful male vocals a la Khaled.
4. **4:04; Rhany-Chan Chan
Lots of harmonium-type instrument, midtempo Moroccan cover of an Afro-Cuban number.
5. ****3:54; Ishtar & Los Niños De Sara-Alabina
dramatic midtempo flamenco/bellydance with a Moroccan/Egyptian Israeli singer and Spanish-speaking French gypsy band. Whew! MASSIVE hit which gave the group their name. LONG fade.
6. **6:27; Omar Faruk Tekbilek Feat. Enrique Morente-Ole Aman
pretty, slightly uptempo, flamenco-influenced guitar, flute and handdrum, Turkish composer and flamenco singer. Big tempo increase towards end.
7. ***6:32; Alfredo De La Fé-Macondo
fun, somewhat uptempo Cuban cumbia (yeah, I know – whatever!) with middle eastern handdrums and both Cuban and Moroccan violinists. There’s also a lot of jazz and a bit of hip hop. Whew!
8. ***4:19; Benjamin Escoriza-Paquita La Guapa
flamenco from Granada, but claiming north African influences. Rather downtempo and relaxed, lovely.
9. **8:40; Maurice El Medioni Feat. Roberto Rodriguez-Oran Oran
uptempo but relaxed and jazzy Afro-Cuban groove from an Algerian Jew living in France (sung in French). Great piano and trumpet.
10. ***10:11; Emil Zrihan-Mahani-Zin
solo acoustic guitar, sweet male vocals by a Moroccan Jewish maestro of North African religious song. Handdrums come in at 1:30, nice midtempo gallop. Lots of tempo and style changes.
11. **3:57; Reines De Saba-Ah Ghanilek (Et Je Chante, Yolé Canto)
A Moroccan and a French female vocal duo, backed by Los Ninos de Sara, so there’s a definite similarity to Alabina, with an Andalusian groove. Pretty midtempo swing in several languages.