Amazigh Freedom Rock 1973-1983

Here is another fabulously funky slice of history from Swiss label Bongo Joe; Amazigh Freedom Rock is a compilation from the kings of Kabyle rock, Les Abranis. The group was founded in 1967 by Shamy El Baz and Karim Abednour, two Kabyle musicians who fled to Paris after Algeria's independence (the Kabyles were considered a threat to Algeria's new Arab nationalism). Joined by bassist Madi Mehdi and drummer Samir Chabane, the group experimented with Kabyle melodies, filtering them through the rock, disco and funk they loved. In 1973 they returned to Algiers for the first Festival of Modern Algerian Song. They managed to only get through three songs before organisers cut them off; it seems they didn't appreciate Berber hippies from Paris sullying their patriotic event with these Western-influenced songs. Two of the songs from that contest are here on Amazigh Freedom Rock – funky organ-led opener ‘Athedjaladde’ and the driving ‘Ayetheri A L’Afjare’.

The influences Les Abranis took into their orbit were wide, from the reggae backbeat of ‘Avehri’ to the slap bass line of ‘Akoudar’. ‘Id Ed Was’ is a driving rai-funk workout, on ‘Chenar le Blues’ they sound very much like an Algerian Doors and the psych beat of ‘Thilelli’ makes you want to shimmy the night away. It all makes for a groovy treat from the archives.