Sahra
The often superficial relationship between Algeria'sraimusic and Jamaica's reggae is fleshed out by Khaled onSahra, a CD named after his daughter. On 3 of the 12 tracks, he utilizes the cream of Jamaican studios and performers. The symbiosis is manifested most strongly on "Ouelli El Darek", which features no less than the I Threes, Mickey Chung, and Dean Fraser, among others, on a fine cross-cultural workout with Khaled at the top of his form. Elsewhere he picks out some of the best funksters and North African superstars, recording in Paris and Los Angeles with seven sets of producers, including Don Was, Philippe Heidel, Clive Hunt, and Akhenaton & Imhotep. Despite all these cooks, the stew holds together well with strong material and great performances, and echoes the international acceptance of rai music today--largely the result of Khaled's continued popularity at home and abroad. --Derek Rath