Cheikha Remitti - Sidi Mansour (CD)

All Music Guide

While credited to Rimitti, this is very definitely Cheikha Remitti, the Queen of Raï, backed up by a stellar cast on what's one of the best rock-rai records ever to appear -- harder than anything Khaled has managed, and showing most Algerian artists and producers to be quite wimpy. From the very first notes of "Nghani Ki Ma Naghbi," this is a loud ride, laden with samples and keyboards, courtesy of producer Houari Talbi. But that's merely the beginning of the fun. The bass work throughout comes courtesy of Flea, while East Bay Ray offers rhythm guitar; the lead work is from Robert Fripp, playing some of his most cutting work yet. The horn work is from Zappa alumni Bruce and Walter Fowler. But the heartbeat of it all remains ineffably Algerian -- with a percussion section raised high in the mix. And above it all is Remitti's voice. Deep, cracked, sounding as if it's spent too many years in the desert, but still with a passion that can open the hardest heart, even if you don't speak Arab...ic. The whole record powers along in a perfect mix of Middle East and West -- proof, if you need it, that rock and rai do make excellent bedfellows. It's the title track that's the true highlight: Remitti's voice tails off into a flurry of angry Frippertronics that careen up to the stratosphere, but everything is a pure delight -- hard, rough, and ready, and good to the last drop. Given that Remitti was 70 when this was released in 1994, it's a bold step, and one that shows the younger generation a thing or three. - Chris Nickson, All Music Guide Read more Less