Fadela & Sahrawi • WALLI
com·plet·ist
[kuh m-plee-tist]
a person who attempts to complete a collection or set,
especially a collector who wants to collect an example of every item in a particular field:
Randy Djamal Ghanim-Barnwell talks to Fadela and Sharawi from their home outside of Paris
Q: What are some of the biggest changes in rai at the moment?
F&S: Well first of all we are working with Maghni in Paris and Bill Laswell in New York. Next there has also been a stylistic change that reflects a new direction and a new outlook on life. Since the assassination of our friend Hasni, we live in France. Today the rai diffusion has reversed.
Today it is rai music leaving from Paris and heading to Algeria. And the audience is no longer the same. It has radically changed. “Beurs” ( French of Arab origin) and "Blacks” ( French of African origin) and "Gaulois” ( French of European origin) buy it at FNAC ( the Tower records of France) and in shopping malls. We are much more demanding of rai them than previous generations. Third, we have introduced sounds and vocals in “Mani” and “Wayala” to remind people that Algeria is an African country even if the future of rai is mostly in the West. We hope to sing and introduce rai in Africa where until now there have been no tours of “chebs” (rai performers).
Q: Are you different in the studio then you are live?
F&S: Absolutely. These are two different entities. But we like that there are two faces of the group. It makes things more interesting. The album has a high level of production, but onstage improvisation is what it’s all about.
Sharawl: Shawri: I’m no longer on keyboards. It is our arranger Maghni who plays. The group has been radically recast. It’s more cosmopolitan. Music has no borders. It’s like life. It changes every day. From the first few notes, the tone of the album is set. It builds a wickedly, the derbouka, the horns - real ones! - are omnipresent, the voices are clean and precise and swing, the keyboards leave much more room for other instruments, with the base, drums, accordian, violin and progression subtly brought forward.
Q: What about the title, what is meant there?
F&S: It is a reference to the daily reality of what happening in Algeria. We are loyal to the legitimate sources of rai: love and freedom. From the depths of our work guts, we denounce injustice, corruption and humiliation.
Randy Djamal Ghanim-Barnwell talks to Fadela and Sharawi from their home outside of Paris
Q: What are some of the biggest changes in rai at the moment?
F&S: Well first of all we are working with Maghni in Paris and Bill Laswell in New York. Next there has also been a stylistic change that reflects a new direction and a new outlook on life. Since the assassination of our friend Hasni, we live in France. Today the rai diffusion has reversed.
Today it is rai music leaving from Paris and heading to Algeria. And the audience is no longer the same. It has radically changed. “Beurs” ( French of Arab origin) and "Blacks” ( French of African origin) and "Gaulois” ( French of European origin) buy it at FNAC ( the Tower records of France) and in shopping malls. We are much more demanding of rai them than previous generations. Third, we have introduced sounds and vocals in “Mani” and “Wayala” to remind people that Algeria is an African country even if the future of rai is mostly in the West. We hope to sing and introduce rai in Africa where until now there have been no tours of “chebs” (rai performers).
Q: Are you different in the studio then you are live?
F&S: Absolutely. These are two different entities. But we like that there are two faces of the group. It makes things more interesting. The album has a high level of production, but onstage improvisation is what it’s all about.
Sharawl: Shawri: I’m no longer on keyboards. It is our arranger Maghni who plays. The group has been radically recast. It’s more cosmopolitan. Music has no borders. It’s like life. It changes every day. From the first few notes, the tone of the album is set. It builds a wickedly, the derbouka, the horns - real ones! - are omnipresent, the voices are clean and precise and swing, the keyboards leave much more room for other instruments, with the base, drums, accordian, violin and progression subtly brought forward.
Q: What about the title, what is meant there?
F&S: It is a reference to the daily reality of what happening in Algeria. We are loyal to the legitimate sources of rai: love and freedom. From the depths of our work guts, we denounce injustice, corruption and humiliation.
1. Bab Wahran (Door To Oran)
2. Walli
3. Dellali (My Lover)
4. Dance the Rai
5. Dawh (They Took Him Away)
6. Hasni
7. Wayala
8. Mani
9. Dougih (Pound It)
10. Waadi (Just My Luck)
11. N'sel Fik (You Are All Mine)
Fadela & Sahrawi • voices
Bill Laswell • bass, sounds
Maghni • keyboards
other instruments played by un-named musicians
silentwatcher • info
Recorded at Harry Son Studio, Paris, France and Greenpoint Studio, Brooklyn, New York
Produced by Bill Laswell and Maghni for Gafaiti Productions
Label: Rounder Records – CD 5076
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Folk, World
Style: Raï
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