Arabic Music Compilations

Arabesque
Label: Gut Catalogue Number: GUTCD007

Track Listings

1. Der Bauch - Mc Sultan

2. Cantamilla - Tranquility Bass

3. Kidda - Natacha Atlas

4. Fever (Steve Hillage remix) - Stereo MC's

5. Shashkin (Hefner remix) - Omar Faruk Tekbilek

6. Istikhbar (Prelude) - Gnawa Diffusion

7. Ya rayah (Bi polar remix) - Dahmane El Harrachi

8. Valencia - Rachid Taha

9. Sirocco - Momo & Christophe Goze

10. Shashkin - Omar Faruk Tekbilek

11. Caravane - Radar

12. Parisien du nord - Cheb Mami

13. Wahrane - Khaled

14. Desert roots - Hamid Baroudi

15. Alaoui (Remix) – ONB

General rating:
This was an excellent album when it first hit the shops in 2000 and still is. It has a wide range of styles; most of the tracks are very danceable for solo or group performances, good for party and haflah dancing and equally good for teaching to.

Teachers Rating:
1. Excellent drum solo and good for changing shimmies throughout a single song

2, 3,9,11. Good for warm ups and cool downs

5. A shorter version of 10 – which I have used for folk and stick work – good steady beat with a short shimmy section. Useful for large group work with smaller groups interacting in the front.

7. Ya Rayah has a slow and steady beat for beginners with hip drops etc. I have used this piece as a means of introducing students to the idea of choreographing themselves in small groups and working on the first minute or so, then presenting it to the rest of their class.

9. Great for veil work, working on entrances and building climaxes.

15. Good upbeat party mix – perhaps for round robin work with each student doing a short solo in front of their peers.

Arabesque Zoudge
Label: React Catalogue Number: 34102022

Track Listings

1. Yalili Ya Aini - Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

2. Nokta - Rachid Taha

3. Morgenduft - Dzihan & Kamien

4. Jonon (2001 Mix) - Stephane Malca (Feat. Waad)

5. La Liberte - Khaled

6. Red Skies - Omar Faruk Tekbilek

7. Desert Dancer (Mirage Mix) - Nickodemus Feat. Andrea Monteiro

8. Raba Raba Khaled

9. Esterika - Sfatayim

10. Bahlam - Natacha Atlas

11. Barkani - Karmix

12. Khalliouni Khalliouni - 1,2,3 Soleils

13. Nouar - Cheikha Rimitti

14. Ninderli - Musafir

15. Don't Cry My Love - Omar Faruk Tekbilek with Steve Shehan

16. She's Left Home - Djamel Ben Yelles

General rating:

This is a good second album with again a variety of styles, but with a bit more emphasis on North African styles. There is something here for everyone but to my feeling is less accessible than the first in terms of its first impression.

Teachers Rating:

1,3,4,5. Are atmospheric and good for warm up or cool downs

2. Is an excellent track for transition skills and group choreography – I have done many variations with this track for large group work

6. This is an excellent for arm work and how to do slow moves to fast music.

9-12. All have bright and lively vocals.

15-16. Both are emotional and can be used for veil work

Arabesque Tlata
Label: React Catalogue Number: REACTCD233

Track Listings

1. N'Sel Fik – Fadela

2. Rak Mrid - Cheb Bilal

3. H'mame - Rachid Taha

4. Tu Es Ma Vie

5. Nakhla - Cheikha Rimitti

6. Brani Britou

7. Ashwa - Natacha Atlas

8. Ya Bouy - Steve Shehan

9. Baroud - Safy Boutella

10. Moonrise - Nitin Sawhney

11. Azara Alhai - Rasha

12. Ford Transit - Dzihan

13. Aisha

14. Midnight Chaâbi

General Rating:
I was more disappointed with this album as it has less of a generic feel than the previous two – it was definitely more North African based and not to my particular taste.

Teachers Rating:
This album isn’t quite as useful as the previous two, but

1. Is typical Rai with a sound structure

2. Is good for matching smooth moves to the melody

3. Has an easy musical structure to demonstrate how to interpret music and is slow and easy.

4. Is good for beginners – working on transition skills

8. Is one of my favourites – nice and upbeat vocal.

Arabic Beats
Label: Bar De Lune Catalogue Number: BARDCD03

Track Listings

Disc 1

1. Marrakesh

2. Bliss [Sound System Mix] - Cheb Barouc

3. Distant Skies [Abstractions Mix]

4. Algiers Dream [Dub Mix]

5. Trav Dee Det [Arabian Mix]

6. Zanzibar Casbah [Light Mix]

7. Deep Seas [ Chill Desert Mix]

8. Arabiant

9. Four-Four-Four - Fragile State

Disc 2

1. Simplicity - Uzma

2. Resolution [Dub Mix]

3. Samal [ Bombay Dreams Mix]

4. Own My Heart

5. Atlas Mountains

6. Fables Gold

7. Still Sahara - Claudia Maria Mokri

8. Storms [Addict Mix]

9. Sweetsmoke [H20 Mix]

Disc 3

1. Born Again [Cycle Mix]

2. Koubba

3. Carnival - Mischa Taschenkow

4. Tantalise Touch - Torres

5. Only When You're There

.6. Morning Sun [Glow Mix]

7. Camel Dreams [Smile Reprise]

8. Descend

9. Souk Nationala

General Rating:
A useful mix of chill-out sounds – for background music or providing an atmosphere pre halfah or show. Arabic easy listening!

Teachers Rating:
A majority of the songs have a strong drum beat so its very useful for drills, warm up and cool downs.

Café Arabesque
Label: Bianco Catalogue Number: BIA4150

Track Listings

1. Ceasarea

2. Al quair

3. Vale of sand

4. Zenobia's palace

5. Scent of water

6. Petra

7. Bedouin prayer

8. Mirage

9. Coloured canyon

10. Elusive oasis

11. Desert rose

12. Massada

13. Sky

14. Sacred fountain

General and Teachers Rating:
OK- I did only buy this one as it was so cheap and it has taken me a few listens to get used to it but there are a few gems on there. There is no further information about the songs or artists unfortunately.

Arabia Chilled
Label: EMI Catalogue Number: EMI533634CD

Track Listings

1. Leiley [Transglobal Underground "Dusk to Dawn" Mix]

2. Duden [Spooky Remix] - Natacha Atlas

3. Elama

4. Chal Cahl Alayea el Rumman [Chill Chill Mix] - Ilham Al Madfai

5. Likol Qessat Hob

6. Wean Wisafer - Julia Boutros

7. Dimoui Am Tinzil

8. Addaish Kan Fi Nass - Claude Ciari - Bernard Gerard

9. Merua

10. Arabian Rhapsody 2

General and Teachers Rating:
I bought this one out in South Africa where it was incredibly cheap. Background and I use 1 and 2 extensively for warm up and cool downs. I can't say I like listening to it a lot but I do enjoy having it on when I don’t have to concentrate on it!