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LP
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WWSLP 104LP
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$29.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 5/23/2025
Wewantsounds continues its Algerian music reissue program with the release of Les Abranis' coveted 1983 LP, Album No. 1. Originally recorded in Paris and privately pressed by the group, the album is now being reissued for the first time. Curated by Cheb Gero, who compiled the Sweet Rebels Rai set for Wewantsounds, Album No. 1 is a masterful blend of Kabyle grooves, funk, and hints of reggae. Also known as Id Ed Was, the album is reissued with its original artwork, remastered audio by Colorsound Studio in Paris, and a two-page insert with new liner notes (in French and English) by journalist Rabah Mezouane. The Kabyle group Les Abranis from Algeria has become one of the most sought-after bands on the global beat scene over the years. Founded in France in the late 1960s by two young Algerian Kabyle workers, Shamy El Vaz and Karim Abdenour, Les Abranis rose to prominence in the 1970s with their innovative sound, blending traditional Kabyle music with funk, rock, and psychedelic influences. Their lyrics, often sung in Kabyle, celebrate Amazigh identity and culture, making them a major influence on the North African music scene and beyond. Despite facing opposition from the country's authorities -- who viewed them as a societal threat due to their use of the Kabyle language instead of Arabic -- their popularity continued to grow. Throughout the 1970s, they released several albums, including the highly sought-after Les Abranis 1977, issued on the Paris-based Algerian label Disques Bordj El Phen. In 1983, the group entered Acousti Studio in Paris to record Album No. 1, featuring legendary French drummer André 'Dédé' Ceccarelli -- who played with artists ranging from Serge Gainsbourg to France Gall, as well as on numerous library music sessions with Janko Nilovic, Teddy Lasry, and Jacky Giordano -- alongside Tony Bonfils on bass. Album No. 1 showcases a superb range of sounds, from the reggae-infused cult track "Avehri" to the funk-driven "Achethkhi," and the irresistibly groovy instrumental "Thadoukli." Album No. 1 was originally self-released in 1983 and distributed exclusively within the Kabyle and Algerian communities in France and the Maghreb. Over time, it has become a sought-after LP among fans of Arabic music, as it was never reissued -- until now.
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LP
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BJR 020LP
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LP version. Includes insert. Bongo Joe Records return to the scorching Kabyle rock of Abranis, the pioneering Algerian band that blended traditional Berber music with western rock, folk, disco, and funk, all the while proudly celebrating their Kabyle heritage. Amazigh Freedom Rock is a comprehensive look into their discography, from the garage-rock experimentations of their early days to their lushly orchestrated North African fusion masterpieces of the 1980s. The Abranis story begins in the mid-sixties, when Shamy El Baz and Karim Abdenou crossed paths in one of Paris's bohemian neighborhoods. Both were Kabyle, the Berber people from Algeria's northern regions, both loved rock music, and both were passionate about fostering a modern Algerian sound, as inspired by Kabyle rhythms and melodies as it was by western rock. The two musicians founded Les Abranis in 1967. Together they experimented by mixing Kabyle vocals and melodies with garage and psych-rock but as the '70s progressed they increasingly moved away from the garage and psychedelia of their early days and began to interpret their Kabyle repertoire in more open and creative ways melting prog rock, jazz, and some early electronic influences. Over 11 electrifying tracks, Amazigh Freedom Rock 1973-1983 highlights their legacy as the underground kings of Kabyle rock.
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CD
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BJR 020CD
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Bongo Joe Records return to the scorching Kabyle rock of Abranis, the pioneering Algerian band that blended traditional Berber music with western rock, folk, disco, and funk, all the while proudly celebrating their Kabyle heritage. Amazigh Freedom Rock is a comprehensive look into their discography, from the garage-rock experimentations of their early days to their lushly orchestrated North African fusion masterpieces of the 1980s. The Abranis story begins in the mid-sixties, when Shamy El Baz and Karim Abdenou crossed paths in one of Paris's bohemian neighborhoods. Both were Kabyle, the Berber people from Algeria's northern regions, both loved rock music, and both were passionate about fostering a modern Algerian sound, as inspired by Kabyle rhythms and melodies as it was by western rock. The two musicians founded Les Abranis in 1967. Together they experimented by mixing Kabyle vocals and melodies with garage and psych-rock but as the '70s progressed they increasingly moved away from the garage and psychedelia of their early days and began to interpret their Kabyle repertoire in more open and creative ways melting prog rock, jazz, and some early electronic influences. Over 11 electrifying tracks, Amazigh Freedom Rock 1973-1983 highlights their legacy as the underground kings of Kabyle rock.
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