Mazel

The Algerian group Democratoz mix rai and Gnawa with reggae, rock and jazz. Their debut album, Mazel, shows that it is possible to be innovative and push boundaries yet preserve traditional instruments (qaraqab, gallal, djembé and bendir). All lyrics are written in colloquial Arabic by singer and songwriter, Sadek Bouzinou, and talk about life, hope, difficulties and politics. If you speak the language it will add to the experience but their music is easy to listen to and has something for everybody. Their repetitive refrains and reggae influences are their trademark.

Many of their tracks start off as reggae inspired tunes only to surprise the listener with influences from a variety of music genres. ‘Brom-Brom’ starts off as pure reggae and ends on a jazz note. ‘Dounia’ feels like an old folk tune, where the listener goes on a journey deep into the Sahara but ends up in the American west. The tracks ‘Ah Ya Mamma’ and ‘Impossible’ have a definite rai vibe with great saxophone and trumpet solos. The introduction of ‘Mazel’ is captivating and the song is a clear favourite. The album deserves a few listens before it reaches its full potential.