Made in Medina is a studio album by French-Algerian raï artist Rachid Taha.[4] It was released in 2000 by Barclay Records and produced and arranged by Steve Hillage.[5] Five of the songs were subsequently featured in Taha's live album.

Made in Medina
Studio album by
Released2000
GenreWorldbeat, raï
Length63:52
LabelBarclay
ProducerSteve Hillage[1]
Rachid Taha chronology
1,2,3 Soleils
(1999)
Made in Medina
(2000)
Rachid Taha Live
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauA−[3]

A video clip was made for "Hey Anta".[6]

Critical reception edit

AllMusic wrote that "while it may sound like a shopping list for an international emporium, in fact, Medina has an extremely coherent sound, built on prominent, danceable rhythms, strong melodies, and powerful vocals, all shot through with a Middle Eastern flavor."[2] The Washington Post called the album "an ecstatic union of Algerian rai and Western rock, techno and funk."[7]

Track listing edit

  1. "Barra Barra" – 5:48
  2. "Foqt Foqt" – 6:10
  3. "Medina" (album version) – 5:39
  4. "Ala Jalkoum" – 4:55 - with Femi Kuti
  5. "Aïe Aïe Aïe" – 6:30
  6. "Hey Anta" – 4:30
  7. "Qalantiqa" – 5:22
  8. "En Retard" – 4:56
  9. "Vérité" – 6:06
  10. "Ho Chérie Chérie" – 5:30
  11. "Garab" – 8:19

Charts edit

Charts (2000) Peak
position
French Albums Chart 38[8]

Personnel edit

  • Rachid Taha - lead vocals
  • Steve Hillage - arranger, lead and rhythm guitars, mixing, producer, programming, string arrangements
  • Jeff Raines - guitar
  • Hakim Hamadouche - mandolute, backing vocals
  • Robert Mercurio - bass
  • Geoff Richardson - viola
  • Mahmoud Serour - string arrangements, violin
  • Bob Loveday - violin
  • Helen Liebmann - cello
  • Richard Vogel - keyboards
  • Jean-Max Mery - keyboards
  • Femi Kuti - saxophone, vocals
  • Abdel Abrit - drums
  • Stanton Moore - drums
  • Hossam Ramzy - percussion, string arrangements
  • Hassan Lachal - percussion

References edit

  1. ^ "Rachid Taha Made In Medina". exclaim.ca.
  2. ^ a b "Made in Medina - Rachid Taha | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Rachid Taha". Robert Christgau.
  4. ^ "He Rocked The Casbah: Singer Rachid Taha Has Died At Age 59". NPR.org.
  5. ^ Snowden, Don (March 2–8, 2001). "Rituel Humain". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on August 1, 2001. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "Hey Anta (Official Video Clip)". Universal Music/Barclay. 2000. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  7. ^ "RACHID TAHA "Made in Medina"". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Discographie Rachid Taha". LesCharts.com. Retrieved 21 December 2008.

External links edit