There’s something wonderfully unruly about Ya Laoulid.
Recorded in Algeria, it brings together Chaba Zahouania and a young Cheb Khaled — two voices from the rough-edged world of raï, music born in western Algeria and never particularly interested in behaving itself.
Zahouania’s voice is the thing. Husky, raw and slightly dangerous, it rides over synthesizers, percussion and a rhythm that seems to be permanently leaning forward. Khaled answers, pushes and circles around her.
The title translates roughly as Oh My Child, and the recording appeared on Zahouania’s Nights Without Sleeping, released internationally by Island/Mango at the end of the 1980s.
It’s hypnotic, dusty, joyous and gloriously rough around the edges.
Music with sweat on it.
Best played loud.