Diwan

NEW USA IMPORT - gold dj stamp - minor cut in ean / barcode - Legal notice - EAN 731453995321

The second collaboration between Taha, an Algerian living in France, and '70s prog rocker Steve Hillage, Diwan carries forward the old/new hybrid of 1996's Ole Ole. Taha is clearly familiar with ancient Middle Eastern melodies, but he's also comfortable with the dance rhythms of Parisian nightclubs. Traditionalists will find the straightforward melodies and instrumentation of "Habina" and "Ach Adani" the most satisfying, but Diwan's most adventurous track, "Bent Sahra," may be its best. Instead of strings, the song leans heavily on an industrial beat and the hypnotic mantra of a guest female vocalist. Though not for purists, it perfectly captures the urban throb of Paris and the intense dislocation felt by every immigrant. --David Bombeck