Mehdi Haddab talks about Kalashnik Love

Speed Caravan

If you’ve never regarded the oud —the fretless lute at the core of so much traditional Arabic music— as a rock’n’roll instrument, then you’ve clearly never heard Speed Caravan or the frenetic and joyous playing of Mehdi Haddab. The Algerian-French trio create music that references The Cure and The Chemical Brothers alongside Algerian rai and other Arabic influences in a glorious collision of global sounds and styles.

Further reading

Montparnasse Musique launch immersive exhibition and sonic journey, Kinjotour

Kinjotour runs from 10 October to 7 December 2025 in Lille, France.

Susana Baca live at WOMAD announced

A new digital-only release of Susana Baca’s triumphant performance at the WOMAD Festival in 2023...

Spafford Campbell: Erasing genre and finding gold in the embers

Jane Cornwell talks to Spafford Campbell about new album Tomorrow Held.

Track of the day: ‘Too Many Have Gone’ by The Breath

The Breath reveal their first new music since the release of their third album, Land of My Other. A...