May: I Come Again - Rachid Taha

On March 28, I shared a posthumous release by Rachid Taha - Je Suis Africain here. 

 

The legendary Algerian singer Rachid Taha, known as "The King of Rock & Rai" died in September 2018. Taha hit the peak of his popularity in the 1990s, thanks to versions of timeless Arabic hits "Ya Rayah" & "Abdel Kader" (the latter with fellow Algerian singers, rai masters Cheb Khaled & Faudel).

One of Taha's longtime collaborators was English guitarist / producer Steve Hillage, who first met Taha back in 1982. At the time, Taha was frontman of the Arab-Franco rock band Carte de Séjour ('residence permit').

This one is Carte Blanche, a compilation consisting of songs Taha recorded with Carte de Séjour (Mohammed Amini, Mokthar Amini, & Jérôme Savy - tracks 2-6) along with songs from his more recent solo albums, produced by Steve Hillage. It begins with one of his most popular songs, "Ya Rayah". 

 

Rachid Taha & Carte De Séjour – Carte Blanche 2xCD, Barclay, 1997.
decryption codes in comments

CD1 -
Ya Rayah
Douce France
Bleu De Marseille
Rhorhomanie
Ramsa
Zoubida
Barbès
Bled
Malika
Voilà, Voilà
Indie (vocal version / 1+1+1...)
Non Non Non (original version)
Valencia
Jungle Fiction
Kelma


CD2 -
Kelma (Overload mix)
Non Non Non (Stacey Pullen Electro Funk Dub mix)
Rhorhomanie (Steve Hillage remix)
Indie (Percussion Frenzy mix)
Voilà, Voilà (Lion Rock Orchestra Dub)

 

Revisiting,
NØ