Until his incomprehensible murder, Cheb Hasni was one of the brightest hopes of 1980s Algerian rai music. Compared to his contemporaries, such as Khalèd, his voice sounded positively silky and romantic. At a time when the genre was taking great strides into the modern age -- although it sounds as horribly dated as most '80s music now, all drum machines and synth pads -- he was one of the great young voices, but with perhaps a greater awareness of Western pop than some of the others. Certainly, he was someone who could have ...
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Until his incomprehensible murder, Cheb Hasni was one of the brightest hopes of 1980s Algerian rai music. Compared to his contemporaries, such as Khalèd, his voice sounded positively silky and romantic. At a time when the genre was taking great strides into the modern age -- although it sounds as horribly dated as most '80s music now, all drum machines and synth pads -- he was one of the great young voices, but with perhaps a greater awareness of Western pop than some of the others. Certainly, he was someone who could have translated fame at home into international success, if fate hadn't intervened. Certainly a couple of the songs still sound good, in spite of the '80s production. "Rai Love" has an oddly elegant beauty, while "Machi Gharda" is smooth pop that owes not a little to Wham! (read: ripoff). Listening to this, it's impossible not to wonder what might have been if he had lived -- how his music might have developed and his career might have gone. In many ways, although these tracks show promise, it's unfulfilled. He was caught in the trap of a style in transition, yet to find its own voice, and restricted in what he could do. You can't call this collection really satisfying, but as a snapshot of Hasni's budding talent, it does the job. ~ Chris Nickson, Rovi
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