Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
|
Product Description
Review
Bonjour is something of a step into the unknown for Taha. After a lengthy and successful partnership with producer Steve Hillage, he’s chosen to work instead with Gaëtan Roussel, the man behind a string of Francophone pop hits for the likes of Vanessa Paradis and M. After recording demos in Paris, work continued with producer Mark Plati in New York. The results are being touted as Taha’s ‘American’ album, but aside from the vaguely alt-country feel of the title track, with its galloping snare, you may not realise.
The relaxed, loved-up tone of Je T’Aime Mon Amour, and the sound of a baby crying at the end of the innocuous Mabrouk Aalik seem to hint at a blissful domestic situation, but it would be wrong to speculate on the singer’s personal life. The main problem with Bonjour is that it’s the slightest and blandest album he’s made since Olé Olé in 1995. Much of Taha’s appeal lies in his gutteral scowl, but this is too often obscured by backing vocals, or crowded by the arrangements.
It’s by no means a bad album, just less substantial than might have been expected. With its hip hop-flavoured beats and synth stabs, Mine Jai has some of Taha’s old fire. His duet with Roussel on Bonjour has a pleasant, poppy feel. The flamenco-style palmas (hand claps) of Sélu add a novel complement to the ‘Arabic percussion’ that prevails elsewhere. And at least Taha hasn’t ditched his excellent mandole/banjo player Hakim Hamadouche, whose plunking notes have long lent his music much of its characteristic ‘oriental’ ambience.
But at only 38 minutes, it’s much shorter than any recent work, and suffers from a dearth of memorable tunes, especially when compared to his last album Diwan 2, the second instalment of his ongoing project covering classic Middle Eastern songs. With his own writing seemingly at a low ebb, Bonjour makes one wonder how soon it will or should be before Diwan 3 appears. --Jon Lusk
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
I don't find this at all a set back, I adore foreign music and understanding the lyrics isn't so important to me though I like to know what it is about. I'm almost tempted to learn French (might bypass the Arabic that looks impossible) because out of all the rubbish music out today, Rachid Taha actually sings about something I want to know about.
I love the passion in his music, the sounds and how they make me feel - very happy and like I want to get up and dance, do something - they make me feel confident and playful.
My favourites from this album, so far are Bonjour, Agi Je T'aime Mon Amour, Illa Liqa and Mine Jai, though I like all of them really. I've only had it for about 24 hours since downloading it from Amazon yesterday after thinking I had to wait until the 26th for it. Obviously I've had it on repeat since.
I love how everything he does is so different. Often with other artists they all start sounding a bit similar after a while, but not Taha. With each album it is a different sound, or a different mood. And most of them make me want to dance even in public which can lead to some embarrassing situations especially for a person with two left feet.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
