Hassan Wargui – Tiddukla

From the release’s Bandcamp site: “Tiddukla (which translates to Friendship) is one of Hassan’s numerous group projects and he recorded the album with friends in 2015 and self released it through YouTube due to the lack of music infrastructure in Morocco. The Tiddukla album is raw and hypnotic and sees Continue Reading

Majid Bekkas – African Gnaoua Blues

Majid Bekkas produces a stunning take on blues from a Moroccan perspective.  From his Bandcamp site: “This secular music is still considered the “healer of souls” from Essaouira to Marrakech, easily understandable when you listen to the spellbinding sound of Bekkas’ voice, guembri and guitar. Like a watermark, the mystery Continue Reading

Raïna Raï (راينا راي) – Hagda (​ه​ك​د​ا​)

A new name for me to enjoy!  Raïna Raï are (were?) a band from Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria who gained a massive following with this album, released in 1982.  On the 40th anniversary of its release, the album, lovingly curated by Elmir Records, highlights one of the best raï records Continue Reading