Monday, February 06, 2012

The Rough Guide to Music in Morocco


Good news for music freaks -  there is a new Rough Guide that takes a fresh look at the Moroccan scene and highlights a whole new generation of hip hop and rock bands, as well as considering the dynamic country’s distinctive traditional folk music.



Many of the Moroccan musicians, MCs and DJs featured here came of age in the early 2000’s and inspiration from the urban youth styles of the West, especially hip hop and metal.

The opening track on the album, ‘Sah Raoui’ a pounding and pumping track by Fnaïre, a group who aptly call their fusion music rap traditionnel. Another modern urban sounds is heard from London based U-Cef. The excellent track ‘Boolandrix’ is the result of an imagined collaboration between Jimi Hendrix and the contemporary gnawa master or maalem, Said Damir. US MC Johnny Biz, aka Bizmatik, adds his contemporary urban flow to the mix.





H-Kayne’s song ‘Jil Jdid’ means ‘New Generation’ and fuses hip-hop and street style to bring home a humorous yet portentous message about the delights and dangers of internet addiction among Morocco’s youth.

 Meanwhile the old Morocco is represented here by the efforts of artists such as Samy Elmaghribi, whose meditative track ‘Mal Hbibi Malou’ showcases his classically inspired voice accompanied by a haunting violin and percussion.

The Master Musicians of Joujouka can be heard intoning their looping, entrancing traditional flute and drum music on the closing track of this Rough Guide.

There is also a Bonus Album by Groupe Mazagan

Enjoy this dynamic Rough Guide and listen to the sounds Morocco, a relevant, forward-looking and undeniably musically blessed country.

Track List 
 CD1
01 Fnaïre Feat. Salah Edin: Sah Raoui
02 Compagnies Musicales Du Tafilalet: Compagnie El Hamri/Ya Rijal L'bled
03 Amira Saqati: El Aloua
04 Les Imazighen: Iberdane
05 U-Cef: Boolandrix
06 Lemchaheb: Moulana (Notre Chant)
07 Maalem Said Damir & Gnawa Allstars: Bania Bambara
08 H-Kayne: Jil Jdid
09 Samy Elmaghribi: Mal Hbibi Malou
10 Mazagan: Ya Labess
11 Master Musicians Of Joujouka: Mali Mal Hal M'Halmaz

CD2 - Bonus Album by Groupe Mazagan
01 Abdelillah
02 Ayli Ayli (Feat. Outlandish)
03 La Vignette
04 Atay
05 Ya Sidi Chafi (Duo)
06 Allah Allah
07 Sogui Belati
08 Salamo Salam
09 Asmae Allah
10 Instrumental
11 Ayli Ayli (Solo)

The Details

The Rough Guide To The Music Of Morocco

Release date February 27 2012
Cat No: RGNET1266CD
Barcode: 9781908025098
Barcode (USA): 605633126624

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would not qualify this as "music", let alone make it Moroccan.
At best, it's noise pollution.
This music is nothing more than importation of hip-hop by a bunch of unemployed youth that have a lot of free time and very little talent.

AbdelSMB said...

Like it

Fatima Zohra said...

I love this! Anonymous is a grouch ! Very good music Ya Labess and Mali Mal Hal M'Halmaz are my favourites

Samek said...

I am afraid that "anonymous" is a self-opinionated twat. This is an interesting collection.

Anonymous said...

anonymous represents the 1% and also has avoided evn checking out the broad range on this CD, The unemployed he speaks of earn more than him as musiicans in most cases

Anonymous said...

Cool CD Thanks View from Fez I love Master Musiicans of Joujouka but all the rest is cool as f@@@