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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Cheb Mami, leading exponent of Algeria's "rai" music, goes for broke on Dellali. Paralleling the origins of the Western world's early rock & roll, punk and hip-hop (as well as the blues and reggae), rai originated in Algeria's underclass as home-grown recreational art. The personal became political, and as its popularity (and controversy) grew, the music--marked by raw, provocative and wilful vocals--became a beautifully uplifting and rebellious expression, a flag claimed and raised high by Algeria's young. One of the form's earliest innovators, Cheb Mami fled to Paris where he has for two decades been a rising star, blending rai with dance, hip-hop, funk and rock, in a string of ever-more accessible recordings. His international calling card, however, was backing Sting on "Desert Rose". Sinewy, sophisticated and genre-expansive, Dellali features Mami's barbed-wire vocals cutting through multi-layered fields of wild and orchestral violin, accordion, cello, oud and drums. Sting backs Mami on a track, and late Nashville sensation Chet Atkins is on guitar on backing vocals. But the most shimmering and soulful moments come when the London Community Gospel Choir turn Dellali into a grandiose explosion of nearly perfect sound. --Paige La Grone
fRoots, October 2001
The Paris-based Algerian Mami is a bona-fide star in France and I imagine he'll have no trouble consolidating that position with Dellali. With production shared between Nile Rodgers (of Chic fame) and man of the moment Nitin Sawhney and guests including Sting, Chet Atkins and Ziggy Marley, this is unashamedly a pop-rai disc, full of big hooks and sharp grooves. The nine tracks produced by Rodgers are as funky as you'd expect, without ever losing track of those Maghrebi roots. Sawhney's four contributions more experimental: "Yahamami" finds Mami's voice sailing gloriously over a string arrangement, whilst on "Ana Oualache" he is matched, less successfully with the London Community Gospel Choir. The more traditional "Tzazae" (complete with accordeon and violin) works a treat as do a goodly proportion of the Rodgers produced tracks. Especially "Rim Lachoura" (an exile's lament with a throbbing bassline, more accordeon and a breathy female chorus) the reggaefied "Madanite" with Ziggy Marley on backing vocals and the big rai stomper "Mamazareh". Throughout, Mami's high, passionate voice holds the attention. More consistent than Khaled's last (there's no embarrassing cover of "Imagine" here), this is as good as commercial rai gets. --Jamie Renton
© fRoots Magazine all rights reserved
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
So consistent Mami , has again produced a fine album but has managed to uphold an ambient style of Rai music that i believe he does the best. This album is one for chilling out , or has a party feel to it too. It also holds a great diversity of styles ranging from tradional rai to upbeat western orientated songs. In one word STUNNING!!! a must buy for any world music fan.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A very fresh approach as far as Rai music is concerned. As usual, Mami has maintained his excellent standard in blending modern beats with traditional music. Though one hearing may not be enough to fully appreciate the overall quality (music, melody, voice, style, etc..) of each song, and would seem more modern with little traditional Arabic/Algerian influence.
Most of the scores in the album are very catchy. Especially the numbers, 'Le rai c'est chic', which has Sting's voice in the background, adding to magic of the song, 'Mandanite' and 'Rim Lathiva', which show off the volatility of Mami's voice.
I think, the scores, 'Yahamami' and 'Ana Oualache' steal the show, as Mami gets to explore his soaring range, talent and skill. There's some excellent keyboarding too by Nitin Sawhney, in 'Yahamami'. These scores are very emotional and touching (Saida style), the kind Mami is universally unbeatable at.
For those who have heard his 'Haoulou' (album-'Let me Rai'), may find the modern version quite different. Though, one doesn't get to enjoy his sublime voice as in the original score.
On the whole, it will make a valuable addition to your 'Mami' collection and definitely is very addictive !!!!
-Smita Jani
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well.. who would have thought that a fan of Skid row, Iron Maiden and Fast guitars would have liked this but I do! The album is a exotic mix of hot dusty Kasbahs and chic Parisian streets. Cheb's falsetto voice is complimented by the Arabic language and it really does sound great. This album always leaves me smiling and my feet tapping. A much deserved shot in the arm for "World Music". Best tracks are the first two tracks with such beautiful uplifting singing and beats. Even Sting appears on the album so this demonstrates Cheb's draw and influence
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Cheb
Another brill album from Cheb, he's unique voice seems to get better with age! If you haven't heard him now's the time to start!
Published 1 month ago by R. F. Honeywill
Mock Rai
I hate to sound like a purist ...okay, so I am one!... but the whole point behind Rai is the intensity of the vocals. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2008 by Mr. K. Hubbard
Absolute listening pleasure..
A very fresh approach as far as Rai music is concerned. As usual, Mami has maintained his excellent standard in blending modern beats with traditional music. Read more
Published on 16 July 2001
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