Made in Medina

After reinterpreting Arab classics on Diw?n, Rachid Taha returns with a stunning collection of original compositions that owes as much to rock as to his Algerian rai roots, connecting the dots between Europe and the Maghreb. Here he again teams with producer Steve Hillage (Gong, System 7), whose guitar work and arrangements provide the muscular frameworks for Taha's songs and emotive voice. Rachid's new direction has all the power of rock, as on "Foqt Foqt," which maintains an insistent riff while retaining the delicacy and polyrhythms characterizing North African music. "Ala Jalkoum" offers a duet with Afrobeat superstar Femi Kuti while "Verit?" and "Ho Cherie Cherie" could have come from a Peter Gabriel album. Made in Medina is a massive, but still natural, step forward that establishes Taha as the most visionary Algerian singer today. --Chris Nickson more

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jan-04-2007

Really amazing

I, like many others, bought this cd after hearing Barra Barra on Blackhawn Down. I was pleasingly surprised to find that the rest of the cd is nearly as engaging. Garab is similar, with rhythmic lyrics and rock beats, and ala jalkoum is a ballad equally as entertaining. For people who like...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Oct-06-2002

Sit up and take notice!

A couple of weeks ago I heard the last cut on this CD--"Garab"-- played on an online radio station. I could scarcely believe what I heard! Rachid Taha is new to me; his style of music, Rai, is not played very much in the U.S. Basically, it's an internationally-evolved music originating with the...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-20-2002

This CD tries too hard

I was disapointed with this CD as the artist tries too hard to be do too much in 1 CD. It tries to incorporate too many styles without doing justice any any of them. It isn't a dance, or techno CD and is far too Western to be culturally Arabic. I felt I got nothing of what I was looking for which...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jul-06-2002

My third Taha album

My first experience with Taha was when I found Ole Ole while browsing the International section at a CD store. Never heard of him before, but loved the album. I'm always looking for different world beat music.So then I bought Diwan. Hated it. Too traditional for me, I guess. Never could...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-08-2002

This one grows on you - Buy it!

First, my prejudice: I like RAI music, as well as old stuff like Fairuz, and African musicians like Samba Ngo and Habib Koito. I really liked this album! But not without reservations - here's some minor gripes:The first song Barra Barra has been heard as background in BlackHawk Down and in a...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Sep-06-2001

listen without prejudice

THE perfect entry point for Algerian rock icon Rachid Taha's music has arrived with an exclamation mark. Made in Medina is the album to take the maverick Rachid beyond the circle of purists and into the mainstream light. There are new stakes on this effort and plenty of redefining moments to...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jul-11-2001

hectic taxi drive trough midnight Cairo

To be honest, the presence of Steve Hillage scared the sh@t out of me - ya know, all this ageing r'n'r stars trying to cash on ethnic dance scene... But that is not the case here!!! After the first track you feel almost authentic. Sincere but sophisticated, energetic but trance-like journey...

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From: Amazon
Posted: May-26-2001

rock and rai

i thought this was pretty amazing. i love music that breaks down the barriers between folkloric and western dance styles, which is why i'm a big six degrees records fan. anyway, i thought every track on this album was sucessful and infectious. i was grooving to track two's electric guitar...

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From: Amazon
Posted: May-20-2001

A polarizing masterpiece

Anyone can see from the wild swing of the ratings for this CD that Taha leaves no one indifferent. 'Made in Medina' might not please some who enjoyed 'Diwan' principally for its folkloric aspects or those who are disoriented by the unexpected. Personally I loved 'Diwan' and was almost afraid to...

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From: Amazon
Posted: May-16-2001

Rachid Taha should stick to what works!

I blindly bought this because "Diwan" was so good. It is a ridiculous mix of decent Middle Eastern rhythms and horribly misplaced guitar riffs. It would almost be laughable if I hadn't spent money on it. Rachid Taha always wanted to be a rock and roll star and when that didn't work he jumped...

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