N'ssi N'ssi

Amazon.com
Cheb (young) Khaled was a rebel in his day, an Algerian punk whose music blended racy lyrics with cheesy synths and drum machines in a sort of North African '80s techno. By the time he recorded this CD, he had dropped the Cheb and found that there was a whole world of sounds to choose from. Varying tracks were produced by Don Was and Phillipe Eidel. Eidel added a more lush, North African string orientation, while Was's tracks were pure-pop full of funky bass and R&B horns. Khaled's voice had matured as well, giving him assurance without losing that rebel edge. This recording had a lot of detractors when it came out, deriding it for being a betrayal of the rai "tradition." This is patently absurd, given that rai itself was only a generation old, and was created as a revolt against tradition. With N'ssi N'ssi, Khaled had grown, and so had his music. --Louis Gibson

Product Description
This album contains the 'Taxi Cab Chase Music' from the Fifth Element. This song, 'Alech Tradi,' is not available on the soundtrack album for the Fifth Element, only here. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Serbi Serbi
Herbou
Adieu
Chebba
Les Ailes
Alech Tradi
Bakhta
N' Ssi N' Ssi
Zine A Zine
Abdel Kader
El Marsem

Amazon.com

Cheb (young) Khaled was a rebel in his day, an Algerian punk whose music blended racy lyrics with cheesy synths and drum machines in a sort of North African '80s techno. By the time he recorded this CD, he had dropped the Cheb and found that there was a whole world of sounds to choose from. Varying tracks were produced by Don Was and Phillipe Eidel. Eidel added a more lush, North African string orientation, while Was's tracks were pure-pop full of funky bass and R&B horns. Khaled's voice had matured as well, giving him assurance without losing that rebel edge. This recording had a lot of detractors when it came out, deriding it for being a betrayal of the rai "tradition." This is patently absurd, given that rai itself was only a generation old, and was created as a revolt against tradition. With N'ssi N'ssi, Khaled had grown, and so had his music. --Louis Gibson

Album Details

This album contains the 'Taxi Cab Chase Music' from the Fifth Element. This song, 'Alech Tradi,' is not available on the soundtrack album for the Fifth Element, only here.

Customer Reviews:

Music From Seventh Heaven.......2006-07-16

Or audio Hasheesh - take your pick.

One of the most nearly perfect albums I have heard in over four decades of eclectic listening.

I have little idea what Khaled is singing about, or what language or dialect he is singing it in - nor do I much care.
The voice is all you need. Add to that magnificent instrument
superb musicians, spot-on instrumentation, arrangements and production that fits each song like a glove and...what else is necessary to know?

Eleven splendidly varied songs that all groove, cook and flow into each other with an utterly dependable, danceable, intoxicating drive and sheer delight in being alive. It just keeps coming on. And you wish it will never stop. This is music that would make Sufis of the pathetic Taliban.

(Check out Kenza, too!)

Fabulous!.......2004-03-05

This CD is my first experience with rai music. I am now a devoted fan. The first song truly speaks to my heart. The second song KEBOU is my favorite on the album. I am a student of Middle Eastern dance and enjoy all types of Arabic music. I find the music here to be eclectic, hypnotic, and energetic. I do not speak Arabic and currently enjoy listening to Khaled more than any of my English language CD's. I think the varied instrumentation is invigorating and fresh. Khaled's voice is so engaging and the more I hear it the more I love it. Just can't say enough!

I finally got it.......2002-03-11

I bought this CD for the "alachi taadi" song from the fifth element. I was surprised to find other songs that are even better. Great Music

found it!.......2002-02-03

I can't believe Eric Serra would not include the "Taxi Cab Chase Scene" music of Alech Tradi on the 5th Element soundtrack. That's just as well. When I found the song on N'ssi N'ssi, I discovered a whole new sound I absolutely fell in love with. Khaled has become a new favorite for me, and I look forward to hearing his other albums.

I Can't Get Enough of this CD!.......2001-12-22

Even though this is one of the older Rai CDs out there (1993), it is still, by far and away, the very best I've heard. And I have been listening. If you're new to Rai, this is definitely the one to hook you. If you're not new, you still must have it. And if you have no idea what Rai is, but you know how to appreciate that Quincy Jones style funk, then check out what this MUSICAL MASTER does with that American homegrown sound.

However, if all Khaled did was mix American funk production with traditional music, he would be just another good world music artist. But try to wrap your mind around a mélange of North African arab lyrics and insruments that incorporate funk, tango, jazz, and Mediterranean salsa, backed by a doumbec percussion, played by an airtight band that just locks every time.