Steve Shehan & Baly Othmani - Assarouf (1997)

Here are some Amazon customers reviews (click here for more):

«This is an amazing album. The Amazigh artist Othmani has created a once in a lifetime expression of the desert. As an Amazigh myself, I must commend Othmani on an impeccable and smooth collection. Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to get lost in the rhythms and melodies of the Algerian Sahara.»

«Baly Othmani makes some of the most entrancing, enchanting and beautiful music. He is Algerian Tuareg è[…] playing the oud, which is related to the guitar. I first heard 2 songs by him on the Desert Blues: Ambiances du Sahara album. Both are totally addictive. I highly recommend this artist and all of his albums.»

«This is one of my “desert island” CDs. I could easily echo my esteemed fellow reviewers in describing this music's Tuareg roots. But all I will say is that this music is pure beauty. Pure peace. A journey through an earthly paradise. An experience of unutterable joy. One of humanity’s great treasures.»

«I got this album because I loved Shehan’s collaboration with Omar Faruk Tekbilek on his latest album. In any case, Assarouf is so lovely. The music is intense, rich – and Baly Othmani provides the most perfect vocal accompaniment. […] It’s a shame that the album is not readily available new anymore».

Well, “no more available new”, but available here on Babe(b)logue. Enjoy it!

Steve Shehan’s personal Website: http://www.steveshehan.com/index_site.html

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Abdelli - New Moon (1995)

«The poetic and passionate music of a man who brings his ancient culture into the twentieth century, in collaboration with musicians from South America and the Ukraine.

Abdelli is a Berber of the Kabyle people, indigenous North Africans who inhabited the region since pre-Arab times. His instrument is the mandole, an Algerian instrument that is similar to the Portuguese guitar. Abdelli blends traditional Berber music with Arab music of the urban environment.

His musical ensemble includes Moroccans, a percussionist on darbukka and bendir, violinist, and a Tunisian ney (flute) player. He currently lives in exile in Belgium, has won continental acclaim for his performances and collaborations throughout Europe and has recorded with the Real World label.» (Real World Records)

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Kolinda - Kolinda 6 (1988)

«Kick-butt underrated Hungarian band. They probably don't like to call themselves progressive but they're just as progressive as most other 70's output. They're also very innovative. Masterminded by their founder Peter Dabasi, Kolinda invites you to partake in their sometimes insane, sometimes beautiful, sometimes hypnotic world of Hungarian folk and gypsy prog which includes a plethora of exotic instruments, bombastic (at times) female/male vocal harmonizing, sometimes beautiful vocal harmonizing, etc. I cannot say enough good things about Kolinda. They've been around since 1975 and have released a bunch of albums. They are still alive and recording even today.» (New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock)

For more albums of and information about this amazing band, click here and here.

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