Mraya

Abdel Ali Slimani

Released 08 January 1996

  1. Laziza
  2. Habibti
  3. Zeyna
  4. Mraya
  5. Yasmin
  6. Alger
  7. Hadi
  8. Ana Guellile
  9. Ana Guellile Dub

Liner notes

Laziza

To my mother, I’ll never forget you.
Pour ma mère, je ne t’oublierai jamais.

 

Habibti

“When I left, you were a little girl. Now time has passed. Unbelievable!”
“Quand je suis parti, tu étais toute petite.
Le temps a passé. C’est incroyable!”

 

Zeyna

“Your beloved is away, but he will return to the village to marry you.
They will paint your hand with henna and dance day and night.”
“Ton amoureux est parti, mais il reviendra au village pour t’épouser. Ils te peindront les mains avec du henné et danseront jour et nuit.”

 

Mraya

The émigré looks in the mirror and sees his father, his mother, his hometown.
L’émigré regarde dans le miroir et voit son père, sa mère, et sa ville natale.

Yasmin

To my daughter with love.
Pour ma fille adorée.

 

Alger

Dedicated to my friends from El Anasser, Algiers, and all Algerians.
Dédié à mes amis d’El Anasser, Algiers, et à tous les algériens.

 

Hadi

In praise of the Algerian National Football team, and their coach, Majer.
A la gloire de l’équipe de football algérienne, et de son entraîneur, Majer.

 

Ana Guellile

“I am a poor man, maybe it’s God’s will. You can cross the oceans, you’ll never find anyone like me.”
“Je suis pauvre, peut-être que c’est la volonté de Dieu. Tu peux aller au- delà des océans, tu ne trouveras jamais personne comme moi.”

Listen

Credits

All tracks written by Slimani, Adams, Reynolds, Wobble

Abdel Ali Slimani vocals, darbuka, bendir, tar, kraksh Justin Adams electric & spanish guitars, oud, backing vocals John Reynolds drums, programming, backing vocals 
Jah Wobble bass

with guests: Sinéad O’Connor vocals on ‘Mraya’ Natacha Atlas vocals on ‘Habibti’ Caroline Dale cello on ‘Mraya’ Carol Isaacs accordion on ‘Hadi’ Nacer Khenniche darbuka on ‘Mraya’

Executive producer Jah Wobble for 30 Hertz Productions 
Recording produced by John Reynolds Assistant producer Justin Adams

Recorded at John Reynolds Studios Mixed by Mark Ferda
 Mixed at 30 Hertz Studios

All tracks published by Copyright Control/Warner Chappell

Management David Jaymes Associates Ltd

Thanks to Ma famille, Dickie Daws, Rachid, Lamia, Sofiane, Mustapha Terki, Rim (Local Rock), Leila, Khadidja, Fred, Khamissa, Souad, Yazid, Ahmed, Ali Mabrouk, Youcef, Makhlouf, Rick Glanfield, Michaela, Saad, Tony D. Giorgio, Salah, Samira, Sinéad O’Connor, Mustapha Messahel, Sadek, Hassen, Yasmina, Redouane, Djaafar, All the staff at WOMAD/Real World.

Sinéad O’Connor appears courtesy of Ensign/Chrysalis

Further Listening

  • Mustt Mustt

    Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook

    Released 12 November 1990

    The late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is today acknowledged as the great master of Qawwali who popularised this beautiful and inspirational music beyond Muslim peoples to a worldwide audience. Mustt Mustt is the first of two albums on which the singer collaborates with Canadian producer Michael Brook to place the music in a contemporary setting.
  • Real Sugar

    Paban Das Baul & Sam Mills

    Released 24 March 1997

    Gorgeous melodies, the coolest contemporary arrangements - from sensual Bengali ballads to London drum and bass. Real Sugar is the result of a collaboration which began in 1988 on the veranda of Paban’s house in Calcutta. Londoner Sam Mills applied modern pop sensibilities to the rich music of the Bauls of Bengal.

Further Reading

From Algiers to London: Abdel Ali Slimani gets an Invasion of the Heart

Abdel Ali Slimani shares the story of his music journey from Algeria to England.

5 albums that showcase the beautiful music of North Africa

Get to know the music of North Africa with these five essential albums from our catalogue.