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

Totó la Momposina (1940-2026)

Colombia has lost a great cultural icon, Totó la Momposina, who leaves behind a huge musical legacy...

Emerging Sudanese star Sulaf signs to Real World, releases ‘Naada’

Sulaf will be the opening act on Tinariwen's European tour this April and May.

Swaken Lyrics

Bab L' Bluz second album, Swaken, released in May 2024. These are the song lyrics in English, French...

Spafford Campbell: Erasing genre and finding gold in the embers

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