Seba “Ewa” is a good sign of where international music is heading.
The album is both entertaining and well orchestrated. Their use of
the right mixture of Middle-Eastern rhythms and western influences
make it outstanding.
Seba is comprised of 6 brothers who hail from M’Sirda, Algeria
who brought their native percussive sounds to France. Their mission
is to “enrich the traditional rhythms of their country with the flavors
of the occident.” In other words, Middle-East meets West.
Overall, listening to this album is fun. Although the music has
strong Arabic and French beats, they integrate modern techniques such
as sampling, spinning and looping.
The song “Té Dékoum” has a bouncy beat and a very American sound, except
for the lyrics, which are French. Other songs such as “Rai Rai,” keep the
Middle-Eastern sound.
I especially liked the song “Rai Rai” because of the tiny clanks in the
background. They gave the flow of the song a crisp, tinny beat that just
sounded really good.
As a belly dancer and fan of Middle-Eastern music, this album sits
well with me. The French and modern touches gave the album a fresh and
fun appeal. My final judgement: it’s fun to dance to.
