WE DO THE MASHED POTATO AND THE FUNKY CHICKEN

Rachid Taha

Olé, Olé

  • AMG Review of Olé, Olé

    Amg
    Brendan Swift
    All Music Guide

    A refreshing blend of modern electronic/ock and raditional Algerian music, Ole Ole successfully combines Algerian and English lyrics into a new and interesting style. "Nokta" captures the blend of modern Algerian rock at its best, while "Non Non Non" is an easily accessible anthemic piece of world music, reminiscent of Ricky Martin, with a healthy dose of electronica thrown in. An over-reliance on repetitive motifs used to heighten Taha's pleas in such tracks as "Boire" and "Comme Un Chien" stops Ole Ole from complete crossover success, however. A dose of surf rock in "Jungle Fiction" furthers Taha's range while providing a refreshing change to the common thread of dance and raditional styles. Taha's liner notes to each song (in both Algerian and English) make interesting reading, but are no less illuminating than the eclectic mix of musical and cultural influences at work throughout Ole Ole.

Rachid Taha's a bit underrepresented here on MOG
about 1 year ago

apart from his collaboration with Joe Strummer on "Rock the Casbah". So, to redress the balance, here is the man himself, in 1995, with a song that is the type of tune Bo Diddley and Clifton Chenier might have made if they were both Algerian. If that doesn't persuade you to hit that red button, then I don't know what will

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