Free Music (Part One)

Free Music (Part One) compiles the third and fourth albums (the only ones released on vinyl) of the Libyan, mid-70s, disco band The Free Music. The nine tracks were written by bandleader and producer Najib Alhoush (sadly, no longer with us); seven include soft reverby Arabic vocals, two are instrumentals. The vocal melodies are Arabian in style; if it weren't for them, the album could be from anywhere but that doesn't detract from the music's personality as a whole; one driven by Alhoush's lead guitar that swirls around the grooves like a funky Winged Eel Fingerling.

The tracks were mastered from vinyl excepting two that were mastered from the original tapes. The sound quality isn't great but good enough to be able to hear everything. A second compilation is planned focusing on the other (cassette-only) albums.

The album's style is consistent – classic band disco à la The Trammps and The O’Jays but it doesn't feel like a copy of its sources; it feels as good as anything that inspired it. Though not every song is as good as every other and the vocals are unremarkable, the band is hot, and the guitar playing is stellar. Great, ecstatic dance music and not a machine in sight.