Dec 4/06
Onwards, Algeria
I’ll continue on my Algerian kick today with some beautiful music by Souad Massi. I’m not sure why I haven’t given her music a closer listen in the past. Now I’m hooked. Thanks to Henri for letting me have a second listen.
Souad Massi was born in Algeria in 1972. She came from a musical family and learned guitar at a young age, studying flamenco (she loves Paco De Lucia) and other styles.
Early on she played in a variety of groups, from folk to rock, but didn’t have much interest in traditional Algerian music. That changed over time and Massi gradually developed a beautiful-sounding Algerian traditional/modern-Western hybrid style.
In 1999 she arrived in Paris with a splash at a Algerian women’s concert at the Cabaret Sauvage and never looked back. She lives here now and has released four albums, each of which is steadily increasing her international reputation.
Three tracks today: two from her 2001 release, Raoui, and one from her 2002 album, deb.
Souad Massi – Ghir enta
Souad Massi – Bladi
Souad Massi – Rani Rayha
Souad is one of my all-time favorites, so I’m glad that you gave her that closer listen. On one of her rare trips over to the U.S. I had the misfortune of not being of age to see her in a bar. Here’s hoping she graces my area with her presence again soon!