The SLAM! Years (1983-88)

Born in Libya but long based in Egypt, Hamid El Shaeri is a superstar of popular Arabic music. This album focuses on his earlier recordings from the 1980s when he was signed to the SLAM! label – one track, ‘Ayonha’, has already appeared earlier on the first Habibi Funk compilation and the enthusiastic response it received from those who heard such has led the label to license it and ten more tunes for this album (previously, the SLAM! recordings were only released on cassette).

Sleeve notes detail how El Shaeri spent time in London before settling in Cairo and it was the UK capital’s music of the early 1980s that helped shape his sound: this means synthesizers dominate. While not my favourite instrument, the Arabic pop El Shaeri makes is engaging enough that I can overlook the absence of acoustic instruments. He sings well and the songs have a gorgeous yearning to them. The winning track here is ‘Maktoub Aleina’ with its slick disco rhythms – El Shaeri’s high voice washes over a beat that will fill dance floors today (as it surely did 40 years ago).