Ghana Fenou

Offspring of ultra-famous artists tread a difficult path forging their own musical style: witness sundry mini Marleys and Kutis. This is a problem facing Kamel El Harrachi, whose late father Dahmane was one of the greatest and most distinctive stars of Algerian chaabi music. Dahmane El Harrachi's rough melodic voice, simple but gripping banjo adornments, and songs dealing with everyday reality, rather than poetic allusions, made him instantly recognisable, and turned some of his songs into standards: ‘Ya Rayah’ (Oh Emigrant), made famous a second time by Rachid Taha, is a case in point.

El Harrachi junior's career has so far concentrated on a respectful recreation of his father's canon, which has attracted the occasional criticism of unoriginality. But his musicianship and the excellence of the raw material carry the day. It's not as if we have 150 top-rate replicas of this wonderful style. His voice is smoother than his father's, but similarly rich, assured and expressive; his mandole playing is also similar to his father's lovely banjo work. But it's great: the arrangements and recording are rich and deep, enhanced with bass, a few subtle string sections and a hint of flute. These are in essence impeccably crafted modern renditions of the old material. Short of cryogenic chaabi preservation, what more could one want?