Independent Review of The London gig!

Click on the image to enlarge/Cliquez sur l'image pour la voir en grand.

Stop The War Benefit Concert: Brian Eno/Imogen Heap/Nitin Sawhney/Rachid Taha, Astoria, London
A riotous night for peace
By Tim Cumming
Published: 29 November 2005, The Independent.
Sent by Rikki Stein, with courtesy, as well as the picture!

It's rare for Brian Eno to grace a British stage now-adays, especially in the context of rock music. You are more likely to encounter his work in art galleries than in the lager-and-concrete grunginess of a rock venue like the Astoria. In recent years, though, he has also involved himself in humanitarian causes such as the charity War-child, and, since 9/11 and the launch of that piratical ship of state The War on Terror upon an unbelieving world, his voice has been prominent in the Stop the War movement, and tonight's gig is a fundraiser for the charity.
Befitting our modern fractal realities, Bring Our Troops Home banners hang beside posters for the launch of the new Girls Aloud album. Punters pay in cash only at the door, and there's a Stop-the-War sign-up stand behind the mixing desk, but other than a brief opening address delivered by Eno about the humanitarian waste and pointlessness of the occupation, the stage is cleared of rhetoric or exhortation, and the raw spirit of the music holds reign.
Imogen Heap's intricate one-woman electronica opens the show, with a short set orchestrated from what looks like the contents of a hi-fi showroom c2012, the banks of electronica twinkling around her like digital fairy lights. Heap has come to prominence via the use of her music on the cult television show The OC and the hit American indie film Garden State, and her shimmering, semi-translucent musical universe is without easy compare.
Her dreamlike set segues well into Sawhney's short, beautifully textured and largely instrument performance, with Sawhney on guitar accompanied by a percussionist and Eno, standing at the back wearing the bemused-cum- impish countenance of a past master of benign disruption, and adding sweeping, poetic techno textures to Sawhney's Arabic-style picking.
Eno resumes his station on a raised platform in front of a row of laptops and gizmos as Rachid Taha's crack seven-piece band storm the stage and play merry hell with the next two hours. Eno calls Taha's music the emanation of "punk Arab consciousness", and from the Arabesque opening of "Mamachi", from Taha's most recent album, Tékitoi (Who Are You?), the packed Astoria audience get a pure emanation of that consciousness in action.
Taha has visited Britain frequently over the last few years, but this is surely one of the best concerts he has delivered. He takes the stage in a skinny black suit and leather trilby, saluting both his musicians and the crowd, twisting his body at the microphone as the song mutates into a driving Arabic rock beat. The opening salvo includes the pounding "Shuf [Look]" and the superb "H'asbu-Hum" ("Ask Them for an Explanation").
Taha looks like an archetypal rock'n'roller, and the band's guitarist Noel Delfin knows all the moves, but the music has almost nothing, apart from volume and mass, to do with the long tradition of Anglo-American Blues-based rock - the very foundations of the beat are quite different.
Eno knows this, and throughout the set adds atmospheres and textures to heighten and sharpen Taha's sound - high, keening oscillations, deep bass notes, minimal "root" sounds, such as the fantastically effective but simple two-or-three-note keyboard riff that plays underneath the song "Medina".
For the night's grandstanding conclusion, the Clash legend Mick Jones strides on in a skinny black suit and plays probably the most exciting guitar he has delivered in years. He and the band are brilliant on Taha's definitive take on "Rock the Casbah", for which the audience goes berserk, and Jones chops out some supremely dirty punk chords through the four encore performances, concluding with a pounding, tribal "Tékitoi". Then, after much bowing and salutations to the crowd, Taha and his boys bid farewell.

... little jump to our links on this gig? Un petit saut vers nos liens sur ce concert?:

Yvonnes' review, photos one, two, more from the Independent.

kelma

Exclusive pics of the London gig! Part two...

London, Stop the War concert, 27th of Nov.: as announced, the second part!!! (first part here!)
Concert Stop the War de Londres ce 27 nov: comme je vous le disais, il y avait une seconde partie!!! (première partie ici!)

Above: Rachid, Noël and Mick Jones

Above: Rachid and Brian Eno

kelma

Exclusive pics of the London gig! Part one...

Great pictures by our contributor David who attended the Stop the War London gig, this 27th of November! It's only the first part... ! More is coming!

Super photos du concert Stop the War de Londres, ce 27 novembre, prises par notre envoyé David! C'est seulement la première fournée!!!...

Patience, patience...: le reste suit!

Yvonne's review of Eno&Rachid's gig in London!

Rachid Taha and Brian Eno ~ Stop The War Coalition Concert ~ Sunday 27th November. By Yvonne Mitton

"Well, if Rachid Taha feels invisible in France [BBC Radio 4 Today Programme interview] he’s certainly very, and frequently, visible here in the UK. The Astoria was heaving to the rafters last night [Sunday] for the Stop the War Coalition concert.

The whimsical Imogen Heap and the aesthetic Nitin Sawhney barely prepared the way for the blast, the wall of sound that is theRachid Taha Band, as they were billed. Standing at the crash barrier in front of the stage was injurious to health in more ways than one ~ but I don’t mind my health being seriously threatened by Monsieur Taha once in a while! Anyone expecting, or even wanting a Taha concert to be a reprise of the genteel Diwan, forget it, he’s moved on ~ retreat to a safe distance, preferably leave the building, if you can’t take it! Last night would knock more than your socks off. As per usual, he belted out, numbers fromTekitoi? and his back catalogue, with an incredible energy that makes younger men look comatose. The audience were with him all the way, for most of the time it was sing-along-a-Rachid. The charisma and magnetism of the man is phenomenom to behold ~ we met up with five fans from Spain who had flown in purely for this concert and certainly didn’t regret it. Brian Eno on his Kaoss drums and as chorus was obviously loving every minute of it ~ his first appearance on the UK stage since 1979.

Now if that doesn’t tell you something about the respect and support that Rachid Taha is attracting from the great and good what will? Mick Jones, to the delight of the crowd and looking wonderfully be mused and blokey, strolled on mid-way to join Rachid et al in Habina and remained for the rest of the performance including the two encores, culminating in the frenetic Garab.

Rock on Monsieur Taha!!
I’m going back to bed now!!

Yvonne Mitton (all rights reserved)."

N.B: exclusive pics will follow in the next days!!!!!!!!!!!! kelma

Brian Eno explains why he decided to play on stage with Rachid!

"Hi all! I'm sending this out to a far wider constituency than previous communications on the subject, because I wanted to provide its recipients with the opportunity to read the attached article that appeared in today's Independent newspaper, written by Brian Eno which eloquently explains why he was drawn to working with Rachid Taha. More importantly, though, it provides the most persuasive reasons for which, no matter what your political, or religious persuasions, support for the war in Iraq simply cannot be defended." Rikki Stein

Brian Eno: Taking the world by storm
Brian Eno rarely plays live, but this Sunday (27th of Nov.) he'll be on stage at a charity gig, playing punk Arabic music. He explains why .
Published: 25 November 2005 , The Independent.

"I will be appearing on stage with Rachid Taha at a benefit concert on Sunday, singing live backing vocals in Arabic (Rachid has helped me with the pronunciation). It is mainly to raise money for the Stop the War Coalition, but it also shows that a bunch of Muslims and so-called Christians can quite easily work together on projects like this. I rather like the flyer we sent out, with a picture of Rachid looking like a dirty Arab giving me a big kiss on the cheek. I also support Rachid's music for its ability to disrupt. It's not because it makes a specific political statement, but I think it would probably be the greatest social revolution in America if American kids started liking Muslim music, like they once loved Elvis or reggae.
You can't imagine how happy it makes me feel when I am up there playing this punk Arabic music, live with Taha's band. I don't often perform live these days - the last time I was on stage in Britain was about four years ago, with the Brazilian Caetano Veloso - because being on stage doesn't interest me generally. But I have played with Rachid, who is an Algerian-born singer-songwriter, three times this year in Paris, Moscow and St Petersburg. I have enjoyed that more than any other stage experiences I've ever had.
This is because it is great being in a big band - there are seven in Rachid's - without much responsibility. There is so much energy to this new music - I call it "punk Arab consciousness" - and I just wish all those guitar bands doing Talking Heads remakes would wake up and listen to what's going on in the rest of the world.
I don't expect you will see a concert quite like this for some time. Mick Jones will be coming on for "Rock the Casbah", because of course, Rachid recorded his own version, "Rock el Casbah". The line-up for this concert - with Nitin Sawhney and Imogen Heap - is pretty amazing
A friend of mine, the guitar player Leo Abrahams, will also be appearing. His guitar feeds into my processors, and then I can do things that no guitar has ever had done to it before. It sounds like live cut-and-paste with Arabic inflections. I've been experimenting a bit with this sound with Herbie Hancock this year, originally for his album Possibilities, but the track wasn't used in the end. It was probably too weird for them.
My involvement in this concert isn't really so much about politics as it is humanitarian. There is a tragedy unfolding. It's quite as bad as some of the other awful tragedies that have happened this last year, the tsunami and the earthquakes, but it is one we created. I really think we should be trying to do something about it.
The reason I really resent this war, apart from the fact it has hurt a lot of people and caused chaos in the Middle East, is that it has so far cost at least $200bn. According to the World Health Organisations estimates, for that amount of money we could have eradicated malaria from the planet, given everybody on the planet clean water, given every Aids victim in the world the best treatment available. We could have done all those things and we still would have had change. Is this how we are going to spend our resources in the future - on these ridiculous vanity projects?
I have never used my own music as a mechanism of protest. I am not interested in using music in that way - but I think all music has a political dimension because it suggests a way of being. Just as reggae suggested a world where you chill out, in a society in which is desperately driving consumers to be obedient workers in order that they earn enough money to buy goods, Rachid's mix of punk Arabic music says: "Let's take the world by the scruff of the neck, the whole of it, and shake it up". People may think that because Rachid is a Muslim, he is therefore knee-jerk anti-American, but actually he is anti-Arab as much as he is anti-American. He is very coherent when he talks about the failings of the Arab states. His music makes people think: "Do I live in the little world of white rock'n'roll, or do I live in this big world where everything gets absorbed and thrown back out?
What a lot of Arabic music is about is a different way of moving your body - there is a spinning and whirling motion, rather than stomping and getting down. If you listen to some of the melodies in Rachid's tracks, they are very complex. To try to remember them as a Western musician is very hard. They are very elaborate. It is a whole different way of thinking about music. So instead of polarising the West against the Islamic world, Rachid's music merges the two. This is accepting and surrendering to each other's sensibilities - and if we can do this through music, surely we can try to do that in the world. "
The Stop the War Coalition benefit concert is at the Astoria, London, on Sunday (www.stopwar.org.uk; 020-7278 6694)

N.B: Have you read Yvonne's review of the concert?

Legendary Clash guitarist Mick Jones with Rachid on stage for the Stop the war concert!

BRIAN ENO and STOP THE WAR COALITION
present:
THE RACHID TAHA BAND
With BRIAN ENO
& Special guest
MICK JONES
+NITIN SAWHNEY
+IMOGEN HEAP
+ECLECTIC METHOD
Bring The Troops Home
SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER:THE ASTORIA: Charing Cross RoadDoors open: 7 PM Tickets: £20, from
See Tickets: 0870 0603 777, Stargreen 020 7734 8932, Ticketweb 0870 0600 100, Firstcall 0870 906 3838
Ticketline 0161 832 111
or from:
www.seetickets.com,
www.ticketweb.co.uk,
www.ticketline.co.uk,
www.lastminute.com,
www.meanfiddler.com,
or without extra charge with cash at Astoria or Jazz Cafe (Camden Town)

Rachid Taha is a new phenomenon in Arabic music. With his band, he brilliantly marries the driving rhythms and elaborate melodies of contemporary Arabic popular music with the forceful sound of post-punk guitar rock, creating what The Times described as 'a dirty, raucous, greasy rock n' roll'. The raw sweat of his music and a well-known stance against racism and hypocrisy have earned him a high standing throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Brian Eno, opponent of the invasion of Iraq and long-time supporter of Stop the War Coalition, is making a guest appearance with Rachid Taha. He worked with Rachid on his album Tékitoi and has performed with him in Paris, St Petersburg and Moscow. In an interview for the South Bank show, he said: "Rachid's music is intrinsically political and topical, and very much the music of the Arab Street. I think he himself is a person who feels his role is to make both a cultural and political statement: he doesn't separate the two things"
Nitin Sawhney world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, composer and cultural pioneer. Creatively active in the worlds of music, dance, theatre and film. Nitin has scored over 25 films and Clubland saw his return in 2004 with the release of All Mixed Up and Fabric Live. He has sold out the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, and with a major DJ performance, the Lincoln Center in New York.
Mick Jones needs no introduction as guitarist and vocalist of the legendary Clash. Now fronting his own band Carbon Silicon, Mick also produced bands such as The Libertines and the first album for Pete Doherty's Babyshambles.
Imogen Heap has been growing on the radar of indie, rock, pop and electronica fans alike. It may have something to do with her immaculate production, but it most likely rests in the pale, haunting pallor of her voice. The 2005 release of Speak For Yourself, sees Heap burgeoning with flavour and inspiration. What brings Imogen Heap her well-deserved acclaim is an uncompromising style and a unique understanding of sound.
Eclectic Method As the original pioneers of DVD DJ-ing, Eclectic Method have a unique take on mixing music video DVDs and film snips. Take a healthy dollop of post-modern irony, a Britney sample here, a rock riff there, an electronic dance anthem or two and you’ve got an all encompassing audio visual experience.
Stop the War Coalition is the main organised opposition to the Government’s war policies; capable of putting hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets and represented in most cities and towns across the country. At a time when opposition to the war is stronger than ever and when, according to a Ministry of Defence inspired poll, more than 80% of Iraqis have been reported as opposed to the presence of ‘Coalition’ troops there is a greater need than ever for the anti-war movement and its work.
We are supporting Rose Gentle and other military families who are seeking an independent inquiry into the legality of the war and who have been refused legal aid. They need thousands of pounds to be able to continue their action which will force Tony Blair and his cohorts into the witness box.
We are organising an international peace conference in December with delegates from Iraq, the USA and Europe. This will be the first time that major figures from the anti-occupation movement in Iraq will have been able to debate their case in this country and do so in the company of people from the peace movement drawn from the countries of the ‘coalition’ occupying forces. We will be organising new demonstrations in the New Year to pile pressure on the government with our demand for withdrawal of British troops.
“Do we want to continue to be proud little partners of a bunch of medieval rednecks or are we going to choose to do something about it.?” Brian Eno, The Independent, 1 November 2005

Further info:
Stop the War Press 07951 579 064
info@stopwar.co.ukwww.stopwar.org.uk

(news with courtesy of R.Stein)

Rachid among the nominees for the BBC 2006 World Music awards!

The news is ...

here!!!

... for Middle East and North Africa.

Thanks Yvonne for your info!

kelma

Additional access points for Benefit concert!

About the Stop the War concert (London, 27th of Nov.), please take note of the following update:

Hi again,
Apparently it's been proving difficult for people to get through to the
Mean Fiddler ticket line and we've now been able to open the following
additional access points. People that want to come shouldn't have to
struggle to get their tickets!
Please spread the word.
Best
Rikki
See Tickets
0870 060 3777
www.seetickets.com
www.meanfiddler.com

Stargreen
020 7734 8932

Ticketweb
0870 0600 100
www.ticketweb.co.uk

Firstcall
0870 906 3838

Ticketline (Piccadilly B/O)
0161 832 1111
www.ticketline.co.uk

Lastminute.com
www.last.minute.com

(N.B: downloadable flyer here.)

Photos and report concert Armentières!

Armentières, 4th Nov.2005

"Good concert - great energy as usual.
Special congratulations to Hakim who sang "yamess" and another algerian song. I can assert that he can sing as well as he plays the mandoluth : marvellously!!!
Rachid has also invited two men of the public to go on the stage and sing with him. One of them has sung a part of "habina" and Rachid congratulated him for his performance.
After the concert, Rachid was very nice with his fans. They were allowed to go backstage and he signed a lot of autographs.
Thanks once more rachid, and also you, the musicians! for the happy hours we spent last friday evening!"

Marie

Marie, thanks!!! Rachid was wearing the colours of Brazil, as the night before at the concert of St Herblain, but inverted , wasn't he?

Merci marie! Rachid portait les couleurs du Brésil comme il me semble la nuit précédente à Saint Herblain, mais inversées , non???

kelma

Photos concert Saint Herblain

Super photos du concert de Rachid à Saint-Herblain (F) ce 3 novembre par Catherine. Les photos documentent le chapka (ou chapeau russe: "bonnet de fourrure, avec oreillettes rabatables pour conditions hivernales") que Rachid porte récemment sur scène et qui ravira les amateurs!

Si vous aimez les chapeaux comme Rachid, rendez-vous sur ces sites qui pourraient vous être utiles: un petit lexique du chapeau en français, hat dictionary (in English), another one, one more, musée du chapeau, Sheldon Brown's hats (qui fait de la concurrence à Rachid)!

Very nice pics brought back by Catherine from Rachid's concert in Saint-Herblain (F) the 3d of this month. The pictures show the chapka (Russian hat: "fur cap with flaps that can be turned down or fasten to side of crown") Rachid has worn recently on stage and amateurs are going to die for!

If you do love hats as much as Rachid, surf to these sites that could be helpful to you: hat dictionary (in English), another one, one more, un petit lexique du chapeau en français, hat museum, Sheldon Brown's hats (who competes with Rachid in his love for hats!)!

kelma

Flyer for the Stop the War concert

Click here to download the flyer (a great one! Believe me!) of the "Stop the war coalition" benefit concert announced 3 days ago by Rikki Stein where Rachid will perform with Brian Eno.

And spread the word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

Cliquez ici pour télécharger le mini-poster (vraiment génial, vous allez voir!) du concert de bienfaisance "Stop the war coalition" que Rikki Stein vous annonçait il y a 3 jours et où se produiront ensemble Rachid et Brian Eno.

Et passez le message à qui vous connaissez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merci!

kelma

We wish Love and peace To all the inhabitants of the world - Nous souhaitons Amour et paix A tous les habitants du monde - Rana netmenou M'haba we salem Gaa souken el alem

(Rachid Taha, "Nokta")

Official news! Rachid at Stop the war concert!

Hi Y'all,

Rachid Taha has joined forces with Brian Eno and special guests Nitin Sawhney and Imogen Heap to present a special fund raising concert in support of the Stop The War Coalition.

Check out: www.stopwar.org.uk/new/events/national/gig.htm
for full details.

Also check out Brian's interview in today's Independent!

Rachid and Brian have already played together this year, in Paris, Moscow and St Petersburg and this will be Brian's first stage appearance in Britain since 1979.

Spread the word. It'll be a night to remember while raising money for a righteous cause. Don't miss it!

SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER - THE ASTORIA - CHARING CROSS ROAD - DOORS 7PM - TICKETS £20CALL TO BOOK - SEE TICKETS 0870 0603 777 -

Tickets are going fast so don't wait!

See you there!

Bestest

Rikki Stein

PS: pour les francophones, vu que vous m'écrivez pour avoir des infos ce sera le 27 novembre, à Londres, THE ASTORIA - CHARING CROSS ROAD - les portes ouvrent à 19:00 - TICKETS £20 pour réserver: (préfixe G.B) 0870 0603 777 . Il s'agit d'un concert de bienfaisance organisé par la Coalition Stop The War et Brian Eno pendant lequel Rachid et son groupe se produiront avec Brian Eno sur scène, comme cela s'est déjà produit en Russie et à Paris! Ciao! Dépêchez-vous les tickets partent vite!
kelma

Compte-rendu concert de Vienne: exclusif!

RACHID TAHA
Le 22 octobre 2005, Festival Salam Orient, Szene, Vienne (Autriche)

Un compte-rendu par Lejla.

En bref: Un bon concert d'un auteur accompli avec une bonne équipe: substantiel, professionnel, fluide sans être "routiné" et correct, quelques surplus aussi; pas de longs discours, peu de signes de fatigue après une tournée bien longue. Les morceaux de son dernier album Tekitoi (à peu près 1/3 du répertoire, les 2/3 des albums antérieurs) montrent les signes de kilomètrage joué depuis 2004. Bonne atmosphère familière de l'espace club. Pas sans émotion, plutôt le contraire, mais quand même pas un tour de force d'un bout à l'autre, comme Rachid Taha l'a déjà fait, au moins une fois en 1997; sa musique ne cesse d'évoluer du bien au meilleur (un long chemin depuis ses débuts en solo!), mais on peut spéculer que sa présence et présentation scéniques étaient au top à cette époque-là (ou est-ce la surprise d’un nouveau répertoire combiné au souvenir lointain qui fit la magie mémorable de cette journée de Radio Beur au Zénith de Paris?) et que depuis il souligne plus ses qualités divertissantes et moins sa poétique; un parcours bien pour les énergies éclatantes-fête du concert, pas si bien pour les énergies qui t'emportent.

Morceau par morceau: On entre quelques minutes après 20h, la salle est remplie du son de N'sel fik, vieux pop raï classique de Fadela et Sahraoui. La salle est petite, pas pleine, mais assez remplie déjà. On n'est pas en retard et on peut même trouver une bonne place pour voir et pour entendre. Le support, qu'on attendait plutôt après, DJ Zipflo, est caché du côté gauche de la scène (perspective scène, donc droite perspective auditoire) et passe ses raï oldies goldies pour encore une bonne demi heure. Ce qui fascine c'est la préponderance des filles et des femmes dans la salle, surtout devant: presque pas d’hommes! C'est a cause de quel ingrédient secret du son Rachid Taha?
La scène est préparée, y a un tabouret près du micro (alors Rachid va commencer assis?), les machinistes s'occupent des détails. A environ 20:40 quelqu’un enlève le tabouret (tiens, pas encore cette fois qu’on verra Rachid Taha chanter assis!) – et c’est le début avec Mamachi debout. Une belle évolution depuis août 2004 quand on l'entendait à Sziget (Budapest, Hongrie) à la première et que les voix ne fonctionnaient pas bien du tout, contrairement à la version studio où ça marche bien. Là, à Vienne, Rachid ne le gronde pas trop, il le chante, voix assez douce et mélodique, aussi un peu mélismatique à l'arabe (certes, comme il le fait lui, avec beaucoup plus de poétique rock vocalique hyperexpressive). Puis vient Shouf, ou Nokta, bon ... les deux, l'ordre est toujours discutable, la scène est assez petite et surchargée. Depuis le début des années 90 le côté droit est réservé à l'électrique et à l’électronique – il y a là Yves, presque depuis toujours lui aussi, puis Noël et Idris, depuis environ 2002 – et le côté gauche aux acoustiques – y a Hakim comme toujours et puis, tiens, pas de Rachid B. même s'il était sur l'affiche, l'homme à la darbouka à l'air familier, mais qui sait d'où et pourquoi? – alors que avec la batterie (Guillaume, tout frais dans le groupe) derrière, Rachid tient le centre, comme toujours, et favorise cette fois-ci son côté gauche (l'auditoire à droite) dans ses mouvements, probablement à cause du manque du place sur la scène à sa droite. Il porte pantalons en cuir, chemise + lunettes (les mêmes que sur les photos prises par enta dans ce blog) et veste (voir les photos de Crozon, je crois) et une chose géante plutôt sombre avec une emblème sur la tête qui ressemble à un bonnet à poil ou kutchma. Puis des bijoux: un pendentif-corne et des bracelets au poignet gauche, pas de bagues. Après c’est Kelma. Pas de discours, Rachid parle très peu pendant tout le concert; il semble avoir oublié ou il ignore délibérément ses déclarations scéniques d’il y a plus que 10 ans («N’attendez pas que je vous dise: levez les bras, faites ooo-eee ! J’aime pas du tout ca, moi ... si vous avez envie de le faire, allez-y ... je fais pas du social, je fais un concert!») . Alors ici il lève les bras et montre comment taper dans les mains: quand on suit sa majesté tap-tap, il se tape le coeur avec un grand sourire. Je dis Kelma parce que le rythme serait approprié à cette chanson, mais c’est possible que cela ce soit passé plus tard pendant le concert: y avait plusieurs occurrences, mais une seule bien rythmée. Puis viennent Hasbouhum et Medina, interprétation et communication moins légères, plus sérieuses, est-ce que c’est ici que Rachid chante beaucoup dos au public? Possible (mais possible plus tôt aussi).
De Bent Sahra on a vu et entendu de meilleurs interprétations que celle-ci, c’est bon, mais sans un surplus remarquable & mémorable. (Ou bien c’était si mémorable qu’on ne se rappelle plus parce que c’était trop?) Est-ce ici qu’on a ri parce qu’Idris joue de la basse comme d'un tambour avec un tel élan? Barra c’est grave, ça touche, le chanteur et les enchanté(e)s: silence alors ... Avec Safi on se retrouve bougant les lèvres avec ‘ana gelbi safi nebghi el hub zahwani ... safi safi zahwani’ – obsessionnel, hein? Au concert ça marche encore, mais il faut prendre garde de ne pas s’écrier d’un coup ailleurs une autre fois (disons dans un métro de matin).
Puis le vide, le noir, les sons du mandoluth et de la darbouka seuls qui restent sur la scène mal éclairée. Hakim chante aussi, en arabe, mais avec un timbre kabyllique, c’est familier, on retient les mots ‘sabri’ (pas plus), les familles arabes des bébés aux vieillards qui se mettent en avant, dansent. (C’était lequel ce morceau intermezzo, qui sait?) Le son s’entrelace avec Ya Rayah et le retour sur scène de tout le monde pour une fête générale de la nostalgie. Rock el Casbah et Habina, l'ordre m'est égal, cela ne veut pas dire que je n’apprécie pas la dramaturgie du concert R. Taha, il en a, ça bouge autour aussi, des fois ça enchaîne bien, des fois y a des pauses, comme s’ils changeaient, cherchaient leur répertoire. Est-ce que dans Habina R. Taha chante la partie à mélismer avec pathos (Ya lail ghanni, el-houb baa'douh B-Awallouh ...) comme jamais avant ou était-ce le moment de la présentation des musiciens? Les deux? Comme la mémoire est-elle fugitive! Ken ya maken ... il était une fois et il n’était pas ...
Coupez! Silence! Y a-t-il un encore? Certes, ça prend du temps – mais les voilà. Un riff qu'on a reconnu d’un autre concert dans un autre temps & lieu, puis Meftouh sans doute. On m’avait dit qu’il ne joue Meftouh presque jamais en concert, alors on a la chance de l’entendre en direct et bon. Est-ce là où Rachid joue avec une serviette (rouge?), l’agite au-dessous de sa tête, l’enveloppe autour de son cou, de ses épaules? Si c'est pas là, alors c’est avant ou après, heu... Suit Ida, pas un de mes morceaux préférés, mais cette fois-ci un morceau génial, le début un peu lourd et inarticulé, mais l’enroulement facile et émotif et les exercises de style bien faits; cela a dû être fort: le lendemain je me réveille avec les voix de Rachid dans les oreilles et cela persiste pendant toute la journée. Hélas pour Garab – un morceau qui place pour moi R. Taha irrévocablement sur le tableau de l’histoire de la musique, à jamais au sein des grands classiques anciens et contemporains, mais jusqu’ici pas une version concert qui puisse égaler la version studio (alors que d’habitude c’est le contraire!). Un morceau trop difficile à rendre sur scène dans toute sa richesse (malgré les matrices) ou simplement un manque de chance pour moi? Donc ici une version brève, pas bien graduée, sans discours, quelques paroles originales interprétées sympa sur des airs des autres sons, mais loin d'un tour-de-force vocalique et rythmique, et pour conclure un hard thrashid à toute vitesse. Pressés de s’en aller? Allez, ça y est. A la prochaine! Ile liqa. Ciao ...