Lisbon in Portugal und Oran in Algeria are relatively close on the map, yet the music of the two cities is worlds apart. Portuguese fado describes the singer’s suffering and weltschmerz, Algerian raï expresses pure joie de vivre. Madredeus and singer Beatrix Nunes continue to weave the story of fado, still melodic and melancholy, yet never antiquated. Khaled plays his raï his own way: rooted in tradition, yet direct, real, loud and proud. These artists are dedicated to their music, their people and their language, yet they keep their ears open to new sounds.

Beat Blaser