Here's a brilliant collection of Moroccan roots music from the desert Atlas Mountains, sounds in which spirituality and history merge to cast a powerful musical spell. These four groups all come from the dry highlands (Tafilalet) between two rivers not far from the Algerian border, a place where Berber, Arab, Andalusian and African cultures have long merged at the desert oasis. The village of Erfoud--5000 people living 3000 feet above sea level--has become the center of a revival of the music loosely called al badi, and after a debut regional music festival in 2002, these four "music collectives" stayed behind to record this enchanting album, two tracks each.
Jellouli & Gdih Music Collective start off with a signature al badi number, "Al jbal dargoug aaliya (These mountains are hiding you from me)," a love song to a Berber girl. It begins with a soothing passage of deep oud and more piquant mandolin called snitra ). When the rolling rhythm and call-and-response singing led by a clear, male voice kick, there's a religious feeling that belies the swaggering beat. The group follows up with a beautiful, dark instrumental improvisation that culminates--like many of these pieces--in a rolling 12/8 groove.
The Meskaoui Music Collective features the spectacular oud playing of Mouloud Amrini, alias Meskaoui. Once again, there's a vocal piece featuring two alternating solo, male voices, one clear and beautiful, the other slightly softer and deeper, and then an instrumental. Both pieces are backed by tbilat (hand drum) and jarre (earthenware pot). The nine-minute instrumental is especially memorable with its expressive, free, oud playing against a simple, funky beat.
Two pieces by El Hashemi Nhass Music Collective deliver a trance-mood full of religious fervor. The vocals are high and energized, and a strong, if creaky violin dominates the sound, especially in the instrumental piece, where it evolves into wild, overtone rich cycles of melody, speeding up in a trance spiral that speeds and spins towards a satisfying finish.
Perhaps most beguiling of all are the concluding vocal pieces by El Hamri Music Collective. "Yarijal l'bled (The saints of the region)" unfolds over a lush musical bed of oud, snitra and three soft hand drums ( tar, darbouka, and taarija). Two voices, one clear one clouded, exchange lines and moods as these seductive songs evolve per form toward fast, fervent conclusions. Morocco is a jigsaw puzzle of intriguing ethnic niches, many featuring surprising and beautiful music. This rather unheralded musical niche provides as good an introduction to the country's rich roots music as any.
El Hamri Music Collective, 'Bla seba bla sebab'
Here's a brilliant collection of Moroccan roots music from the desert Atlas Mountains, sounds in which spirituality and history merge to cast a powerful musical spell. These four groups all come from the dry highlands (Tafilalet) between two rivers not far from the Algerian border, a place where Berber, Arab, Andalusian and African cultures have long merged at the desert oasis. The village of Erfoud--5000 people living 3000 feet above sea level--has become the center of a revival of the music loosely called al badi, and after a debut regional music festival in 2002, these four "music collectives" stayed behind to record this enchanting album, two tracks each.
