Bongo Joe’s 45s series continues, presenting for the first time music from the past. This fifth single focusses on legendary Algerian kabyle rock band Abranis founded in 1967.
The band pioneered the fusion of chaabi (traditional) music with 60s-70s western rock, proudly singing in their own berber kabyle language while wearing hippy rockers outfits. Their shows - in deeply influenced by Pan-Arabism conservative Algeria - were often cancelled by governors and the band once was arrested by the police, generating riots. They kept on playing and recording until mid 90s.
This 45 presents two majors tracks from the band:
Chenar Le Blues, released in 1977, was a big hit on Algerian national radio. The band’s response to The Doors.
Avehri, released in 1983, shows the band’s obsession with merging different music styles with the North African tradition. This one goes strangely reggae.