Taha, Rachid / Zoom
Album: Zoom   Collection:World
Artist:Taha, Rachid   Added:Oct 2013
Label:Naive  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2013-11-07 Pull Date: 2014-01-09 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Jan 5 Dec 29 Dec 22 Dec 15 Dec 8 Nov 24 Nov 17 Nov 10
Airplays: 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1

Recent Airplay
1. Feb 11, 2022: At the Cafe Bohemian (rebroadcast from May 10, 2017)
Algerian Tango
4. Feb 27, 2014: Arabology
Wesh (N'amal) [What To Do?]
2. May 10, 2017: At the Cafe Bohemian
Algerian Tango
5. Jan 23, 2014: Arabology
Now Or Never
3. Mar 03, 2015: Arabology
Now Or Never
6. Jan 03, 2014: World Tour
Wesh (N'amal) [What To Do?]

Album Review
Abu Ramses
Reviewed 2013-10-26
Rachid Taha, “Zoom” (naïve; Wrasse import, 2013
ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN Reviewed by Abu Ramses

After the disappointing “Bonjour” Rachid Taha has retrieved his swagger. This 8th studio album is (almost) back on track aided by producer Justin Adams - a Brit who has worked with Tinariwen (ZK #985046). A mix of musical genres and a host of guest artists. Less mandolute than Taha's previous work but truly “world” music. The album title (track 2) is a tribute to Umm Kulsum (Oum Kalthoum), blues, Dylanesque snarls, Khaled-style rai.

Try 1, 2, 7, 8, 11

Tracks
1. Wesh (N'Amal) [What to Do?] - Dylanesque ballad of lost love - 4:11
2. Zoom Sur Oum (Zoom on Umm Kulsum) - Begins with “the lady’s” “Inta ‘Umri;” Rachid responds by playing with it and at one point joins in - 4:09
3. Jamila - rock ‘n’ rai; a woman forced to marry a man chosen by her father- 4:21
4. Now or Never (feat. Jeanne Added) – Prominent mandolute and bendir save this otherwise weak cover of an Elvis tune - 4:23
5. Fakir – Cajun two step - 3:25
6. Ana (I) - a bit of country style, surf guitars, oriental flute (nay) - 3:41
7. Les Artistes – desert blues; I have no passport, I have nothing - 4:12
8. Khalouni / Ya Oumri (Leave me) [feat. Chaba Fadela] – Khaled influenced rock ‘n’ rai; shake your booty - 4:28
9. Algerian Tango (feat. Mick Jones of “the Clash” on chorus); Franco-Algerian punk; I don’t forget those who love me/ I don’t forget those who betray me.”- 5:10
10. Galbi (My heart) - south-western style of Calexico - 3:22
11. Voilà Voilà (album version; feat. Brian Eno, Femo Kunti, Agnès B & Eric Cantona)- heavy metal reprise of his in-your-face-France anti-racist anthem - 4:21

Track Listing
1. Wesh (N'amal) [What To Do?]   6. Ana (I)
2. Zoom Sur Oum (Zoom On Umm Kulsum)   7. Les Artistes
3. Jamila   8. Khalouni / Ya Oumri (Leave Me)
4. Now Or Never   9. Algerian Tango
5. Fakir   10. Galbi (My Heart)
  11. Voilà Voilà