Barra
Location
Barra
Barra shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NF687004
Names
Gaelic name	Barraigh, Eilean Bharraigh (help·info)
Norse name	Barr-oy
Meaning of name	Barr's island, after St Barr
Area and summit
Area	5,875 hectares (22.7 sq mi)
Area rank	20
Highest elevation	Heaval, 383 metres (1,257 ft)
Population
Population	1,078
Population rank	13 out of 100
Main settlement	Castlebay
Groupings
Island group	Uists and Barra
Local Authority	Na h-Eileanan Siar
References	[1][2][3]
If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census.

The island of Barra (Scottish Gaelic: Barraigh, Eilean Bharraigh, pronounced [ˈparˠaj, ˈelan ˈvarˠaj]) is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar) in Scotland.

Geography[link]

Satellite photo of Barra, Vatersay and surrounding islands

The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078 (1,172 including Vatersay).^[1] The area of Barra is roughly 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi), the main village being Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil).

The west of the island has white sandy beaches backed by shell-sand machair and the east has numerous rocky inlets.

Kisimul Castle at Castlebay is located on an island in the bay, so giving the village its name. The highest elevation on the island is Heaval, halfway up which is "Our Lady of the Sea" a prominent white marble statue of the Madonna and Child. Other places of interest on the island include a ruined church and museum at Cille Bharra, a number of Iron Age brochs such as those at Dùn Chuidhir and An Dùn Bàn and a range of other Iron Age and later structures which have recently been excavated and recorded.

History[link]

The Clan MacNeil has strong ties to the Isle of Barra and claims descent from the O'Neills of Ulster. The name Barra is thought to take its name either from Saint Finbarr, the founder of Cork, or from St. Barr, the great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the legendary 4th century king of Ireland.^[4]

The motto of the Clan MacNeil of Barra in Latin is Vincere Vel Mori or in Gaelic Buaidh no Bàs which translated is "Victory or Death" or "Conquer or Die".

Alexander, Lord of the Isles granted the island to the MacNeil clan in 1427. The clan held the island until 1838, when Roderick MacNeil, the 40th Chief of the Clan, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Gordon expelled most of the inhabitants in order to make way for sheep farming. The displaced islanders variously went to the Scottish mainland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and Canada. Barra was restored to MacNeill ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert MacNeil, an American architect, and 45th chief of the clan.^[5]

In 2003, the ownership of the Barra Estate was passed by the owner, Ian MacNeil, to the Scottish Government. The estate can be transferred to the inhabitants in the future if they request it. MacNeil, the 46th chief of the clan, who died in early 2010, had previously transferred Kisimul Castle to Historic Scotland in 2000.^[6]

In May 2007 Channel 4's Time Team came to the hamlet of Allasdale to investigate the exposed remains of Bronze Age burials and Iron Age roundhouses in sand dunes that had been previously uncovered by storms. The programme was broadcast on 20 January 2008.^[7]

The Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre is located in Castlebay, next to Castlebay Community School. It has various exhibitions annually, and is open throughout the year.^[8]

Fèis Bharraigh & Barrafest - Air an Oir[link]

Fèis Bharraigh began in 1981 when an idea was spawned to promote, encourage, foster and develop the practice and study of the Gaelic language, literature, music, drama and culture in the Islands of Barra and Vatersay. Since its inception in 1981 it has gone on to become a movement, now with 42 other feisean taking place every year throughout Scotland.

Following on from the success, and subsequent end of BarraLive; In 2007, Fèis Bharraigh launched Barrafest - Air on Oir, a two-day festival of traditional and modern Scottish music held on Tangasdale machair, literally on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

Barrafest generally takes place on the last full weekend of July. Barrafest 2012 will take place on Friday 27 July, and Saturday 28 July.

Media[link]

The 1949 Ealing Studios comedy Whisky Galore! was filmed on Barra. The film is based on the novel Whisky Galore by Sir Compton Mackenzie, itself a fictionalised telling of the story of the SS Politician, which ran aground with a cargo of some 50,000 cases of whisky on board in 1941. Mackenzie, who lived near the airport and died in 1972, is buried in a grave marked by a simple cross at Cille Bharra cemetery, which is situated a little way up the hillside overlooking Eoligarry jetty.^[2][9][10] The sequel movie Rockets Galore! was also filmed in and around the island.^[11]

In the sitcom Dad's Army, Private Frazer claims to be from the Isle of Barra, which he often describes as "a wild and lonely place, y'unnerstand". Frazer is renowned for his "We're all doomed!" catchphrase. On one occasion, he relates how "a submarine was sunk in Castlebay and seven brave men were trapped. The water got higher and higher until it got to their necks. And then... terrible way to die!" The story meets with the disgust of his fellow platoon members.

Barra was also featured on the recent Channel 5 program "Extraordinary people: The Boy Who Lived Before", where a young boy named Cameron, who lived in Glasgow, had memories of a past life on the island. In early 2011 the island was one of those featured in the new series of An Island Parish.^[12]

Barra is also regularly featured in various television programmes on the new BBC Gaelic Channel BBC Alba, and it was the location for the fifth and sixth series of the BBC Two documentary An Island Parish.^[13]

In 2008 the Barra RNLI Life Boat, Edna Windsor was featured on a series of stamps.^[14] The first class stamp shows the 17 metres (56 ft) Severn class lifeboat in action in the Sound of Berneray 20 kilometres (12 mi) south west of Barra in 3.5 metres (11 ft) swell with 30 kilometres per hour (16 kn) of wind.^[15]

Sports[link]

Barra hosts an annual half-marathon called the Barrathon.^[16] which is part of the Western Isles Half Marathon series. This is accompanied by a shorter fun-run for families, and younger children. A number of fund-raising events are held around this, including ceilidhs and dances.

The Barra community holds an annual games on the island. In 2008, the Barra Games was held on 20 July 2008.^[17]

The island golf club, Comunn Goilf Bharraidh, has a 9-hole course that is claimed to be the furthest west in the United Kingdom. However, this title may in fact be held by one of the courses near Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.

Tourists can also go sea kayaking^[18] or power kiting,^[19] and ample opportunities are available for keen anglers. Pony trekking is also an option, on the rare, native Eriskay Ponies.

There is an annual hill race, where participants run up Heaval (383 m) before returning to Castlebay Square. The fastest recorded time, set in 1987, is 26.25 minutes.

Transport[link]

Uniquely in Europe, Barra's tiny airport, near Northbay, uses the beach called An Tràigh Mhòr (English: The Big Beach) as a runway. Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. Barra's airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach.^[20] The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, flown by Loganair on services to Glasgow and Benbecula from where connections to Stornoway are also available. There are usually flights every day of the week in the summer. The beach is also a source of cockles.

Ferries to Oban, Lochboisdale, Tiree and Eriskay are run by Caledonian MacBrayne.^[21] Castlebay is the main port from which ferries sail to Oban on the Scottish mainland, Tiree and Lochboisdale (Loch Baghasdail) in South Uist. The mainland crossing takes about 5 hours. A vehicular ferry travels between Ardmore (An Àird Mhòr) and Ceann a' Gharaidh in Eriskay (Eirisgeigh). The crossing takes around 40 minutes.

Industry & tourism[link]

The fish factory, Barratlantic, in Northbay is a major contributor to the island's economy and the Hebridean Toffee Factory in Castlebay is one of the few manufacturers on Barra.^[22]

Tourism provides the main income for the majority of islanders, the high season lasting from May to September. Thousands of people visit the island every year, the busiest times being during Fèis Bharraigh & BarraFest in July. Boat trips to the neighbouring island of Mingulay are available during the summer season and island hopping plane trips are also available.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Castlebay, Barra

• 

  Traigh Eais

• 

  Sunset From Traigh Eais

• 

  Airport Sands

• 

  Barra Airport

• 

  Twin Otter Taking off From Barra Airport

• 

  Castlebay and Heaval, from Vatersay

See also[link]

• List of places in the Western Isles
• Flora MacNeil (b. 1928) Scottish Gaelic vocalist and Barra native.
• Mick MacNeil (b.1958, Barra) Simple Minds keyboardist 1978-1990.

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Barra.

• Explore the Isle of Barra
• Isle of Barra community website
• Isle of Barra Accommodation, Activities and Events
• Barra Distillery
• Ferry Operator Caledonian MacBrayne
• Encyclopaedia Britannica, Barra
• Barra weather
• Video of Plane landing on Tràigh Mhòr
• National Library of Scotland: Scottish Screen Archive (1950s archive film about the island of Barra)
• Island Priest tears strip off agency for nude surfers stunt Guardian 04-03-2008

v t e Inhabited islands of the Hebrides Inner Hebrides Canna Coll Colonsay Danna Eigg Eilean Bàn Eilean Donan Eilean Shona Erraid Gigha Gometra Iona Islay Isle of Ewe Jura Kerrera Lismore Lunga Muck Mull Oronsay Raasay Sanday Scalpay Rona Rùm Skye Slate Islands Soay Summer Isles Tiree Ulva Outer Hebrides Baleshare Barra Benbecula Berneray Eriskay Flodaigh Fraoch-eilean Great Bernera Grimsay (North) Grimsay (South) Lewis and Harris North Uist Scalpay South Uist Vatersay

v t e Islands of Scotland Northern Isles Shetland List of Shetland islands Orkney List of Orkney islands Hebrides Outer Hebrides List of Outer Hebrides Inner Hebrides List of Inner Hebrides St Kilda Other Islands of the Clyde Islands of the Forth Outlying Islands Freshwater Islands

Coordinates: 56°59′N 7°28′W / 56.983°N 7.467°W / 56.983; -7.467

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2011)

Cosmic Gate is a German trance duo made up of Claus Terhoeven (born 1972, aka Nic Chagall) and Stefan Bossems (born 1967, aka DJ Bossi). Both from Krefeld in Germany. On October 28, 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records artist Cosmic Gate placed #19, 43 spots above the group's ranking the year before.^[1] For the 2010 DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ Poll, Cosmic Gate moved to #24.^[2]

History[link]

Formed in 1999, Cosmic Gate's first single was "Exploration of Space", followed by "The Drums" ,"Mental Atmosphere" and their "Somewhere over the Rainbow" remix using samples from the film, "The Wizard of Oz". However, Cosmic Gate did not become well known until their single "Fire Wire" was released in the UK in 2001.

Cosmic Gate have made many remixes for artists such as DJ Tiësto (Urban Train), Ferry Corsten (Punk), Blank & Jones (DFF), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Somewhere Over The Rainbow), Svenson & Gielen (Answer the Question) and Vanessa-Mae (White Bird).

Over the past few years, Cosmic Gate's sound has developed and moved away from the harder edge trance through to their current, more subtle yet still driving energetic music style. ^[3]

Recent touring has improved Cosmic Gate's recognition. A show at The Necto (nightclub) had a large turnout, indicative of turnouts throughout the tour.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Rhythm & Drums (2001)
• No More Sleep (2002)
• Earth Mover (2006)
• Sign of the Times (2009)
• Sign of the Times (Deluxe Edition) (2010)
• Back 2 The Future _{Compilation album} (2011)
• Wake Your Mind (2011)

Singles / EPs[link]

• "The Drums" (1999)
• "Mental Atmosphere" (1999)
• "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (2000)
• "Exploration of Space" (2000) #29 UK^[4]
• "Fire Wire" (2001) #9 UK^[4]
• "Back To Earth" / "Hardcore" (2002)
• "The Truth" (2002)
• "The Wave" / "Raging" (featuring Jan Johnston) (2002) #48 UK^[4]
• "Human Beings" (2003)
• "Different Concept" (2004)
• "I Feel Wonderful" (featuring Jan Johnston) (2005)
• "Tomorrow" (2004)
• "Should Have Known" (featuring Tiff Lacey) (2006)
• "Analog Feel" (2007)
• "Body Of Conflict" (featuring Denise Rivera) (2007)
• "Millenium" (2007)
• "A Day That Fades" (featuring Roxanne Emery) (2008)
• "Not Enough Time" (featuring Emma Hewitt) (2009)
• "Sign Of The Times" / "F.A.V" (2009)
• "Flatline" (featuring Kyler England) (2009)
• "Under Your Spell" (featuring Aruna) (2009)
• "Barra" (2010)
• "I See You (Club Mixes)(with James Horner and Leona Lewis) [Theme From Avatar] (2010)
• "London Rain" (2010)
• "Exploration Of Space (Remixes)" (2010)
• "Back To Earth (Remixes)" (2010)
• "The Drums (Remixes)" (2010)
• "Fire Wire (Remixes)" (2010)
• "Raging (Remixes)" (2011)
• "The Theme" (2011)
• "The Blue Theme" (2011)
• "Be Your Sound" (2011)
• "Sometimes They Come Back For More" (2012)
• "Flying Blind" (2012)
• "Over The Rainbow" (2012)

DJ mixes[link]

• Technics DJ Set Volume Three (2001)
• Techno Club Vol. 14 - Talla 2XLC Welcomes Cosmic Gate (2001)
• 3AM Rush (2002)
• Bitte Ein Beat! - Beat 3 (2002)
• Back 2 Back (2003)
• MaxiMal In The Mix Vol. 5 (2003)
• Back 2 Back Vol. 2 (2005)
• Hard NRG 7 (2005)
• Back 2 Back 3 (2007)
• Privilege Ibiza (2009)
• Back 2 Back 4 (2010)
• State Of Trance 500 (2011)
• Ministry Of Sound: Trance Nations (2012)
• Back 2 Back 5 (2012)

Remixes[link]

• Sash! - Adelante (Cosmic Gate Remix) 1999
• U96 - Das Boot 2001 (Cosmic Gate Remix) 1999
• Green Court - Follow Me (Cosmic Gate Remix) 1999
• Green Court - Follow Me (Cosmic Gate Edit) 1999
• Miss Shiva - Dreams (Cosmic Gate Remix) 1999
• Beam vs. Cyrus & The Joker - Launch In Progress (Cosmic Gate Remix) 1999
• Bossi - To The Sky (Cosmic Gate Remix) 1999
• Taucher - Science Fiction (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2000
• Der Verfall - Der Mussolini (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2000
• E Nomine - E Nomine (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2000
• Aquagen - Lovemachine (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2000
• Balloon - Monstersound (Cosmic Gate Mix) 2000
• Beam & Yanou - Sound Of Love (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2000
• Talla 2XLC - World In My Eyes (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• Blank & Jones - DJs, Fans & Freaks (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• Safri Duo - Samb-Adagio (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• Vanessa-Mae - White Bird (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• Green Court - Inside Your Gates (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• Tiësto - Urban Train (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• George Acosta - World In My Eyes (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2001
• Ferry Corsten - Punk (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2002
• Rank 1 - Awakening (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2002
• 4 Strings - Diving (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2002
• DuMonde - God Music (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2002
• Sioux - Pho (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2002
• Svenson & Gielen - Answer the Question (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2002
• Age of Love - The Age of Love (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2004
• Beam - Amun (Cosmic Gate Mix) 2004
• C.Y.B - Now (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2005
• 64 Bit - Virtual Discotech 1.0 (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2005
• Armin van Buuren vs. Rank 1 - This World Is Watching Me (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2007
• Kirsty Hawkshaw Meets Tenishia - Outsiders (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2007
• Tiësto feat. JES - Everything (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2007
• Cosmic Gate - Body Conflict (Cosmic Gate Club Mix) 2007
• Vincent De Moor - Fly Away (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2007
• Messler - Prepare (Cosmic Gate B2B3 Edit) 2007
• Cosmic Gate - Fire Wire (Cosmic Gate B2B3 Reconstruction) 2007
• Veracocha - Carte Blanche (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2008
• OceanLab - Sirens of the Sea (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2008
• Deadmau5 - Clockwork (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2008
• Armin van Buuren feat. Cathy Burton - Rain (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• John O'Callaghan feat. Sarah Howells - Find Yourself (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• Fabio XB & Ronnie Play feat. Gabriel Cage - Inside Of You (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• Paul Van Dyk feat. John McDaid - Home (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• Markus Schulz pres. Dakota - Sin City (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• Kyau & Albert - I Love You (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• JES - Lovesong (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2009
• James Horner & Leona Lewis - I See You [ Avatar Main Theme ] (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2010
• Andrew Bennett feat. Sir Adrian - Run Till U Shine (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2010
• Cosmic Gate - Exploration Of Space (Cosmic Gate's Back 2 The Future Remix) 2010
• Cosmic Gate - Fire Wire (Cosmic Gate's Back 2 The Future Remix) 2010
• Markus Schulz - Away (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2011
• Robbie Rivera - Departures (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2011
• Ferry Corsten - Punk (Cosmic Gate Essential Rework) 2011
• Emma Hewitt - Colours (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2012
• Rank 1 & Jochen Miller feat. Sarah Bettens - Wild and Perfect Day (Cosmic Gate Remix) 2012

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cosmic Gate

• Official Site
• TranceSound interview with Cosmic Gate, December 2010

Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha
Background information
Born	(1958-09-18) 18 September 1958 (age 53)
Origin	Sig, Algeria
Genres	Rock,[1][2] Raï, Algerian chaabi,[3] Reggae,[2] Rumba-pop,[2] Funk,[4] British New Wave[4] Electronica,[1] Punk rock,[1] Techno,[5] Dance music[5]
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, activist[1][6]
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Knitting Factory Records Island Records Barclay Records
Website	RachidTaha.Artistes.UniversalMusic.Fr/

Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه) (born September 18, 1958 in Sig, Algeria) is an Algerian singer and activist^[1][6] based in France^[2] who has been described as "sonically adventurous."^[6] His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.

Early life[link]

Taha was born in 1958^[1][4] in Sig (Mascara Province), Algeria,^[1] although a second source suggests he was born in the Algerian seacoast city of Oran.^[4] This town was the "birthplace of raï" music, and 1958 was a key year in the Algerian struggle for independence against French authority.^[4] He began listening to Algerian music in the 1960s,^[3] including street-style music called chaabi.^[3] And music from the Maghreb region was part of his upbringing.^[7]

He moved with his parents to France when he was ten years old, settling in an immigrant community around the French city of Lyon^[1] in 1968.^[8] His father was a textile factory worker,^[9] with long hours and low pay, such that his life was compared to that of a "modern slave", according to one account.^[3] When 17, Taha worked during the day at a central heating plant, described as a "menial job",^[4] and hated this work, but at night worked as a club DJ playing Arabic music, rap, salsa, funks and "anything else that took his fancy."^[3] The contrast between menial work during the day and fun during the night may have helped to develop his musical sensibility.^[7] In the late 1970s, Taha founded the nightclub called The Rejects or, in French, Les Refoulés, where he would spin mashups of Arabic pop classics over Led Zeppelin, Bo Diddley and Kraftwerk backbeats.^[10]

Career[link]

Raï roots[link]

Taha grew up in the seaside Algerian city of Oran.

In the 1980s, Algeria's indigenous pop music known as raï began to achieve international attention.^[4] Originally raï music was based on "city slickers adapting music from the sticks" and was described as ribald, but it became more of a medium for political protest when young people in the 1960s and 1970s used it to "express their anger and desires."^[4] Taha has suggested that Algerian musical styles and rock are "closely linked".^[11] Taha was influenced by the North African raï band Nass El Ghiwane which was described as "Morocco's answer to the Beatles or the Stones."^[12]

Carte de Séjour[link]

In 1981, while living in Lyon, Taha met Mohammed and Mokhtar Amini and the three of them, along with Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would soon form a band. In 1982, Taha was the lead vocalist for the Arab-language rock group which they named Carte de Sejour, meaning Green Card or Residence Permit depending on the translation.^[4] He sang in both English and Arabic, but usually in Arabic. Taha was inspired by the group The Clash:

Taha met members of the group The Clash in Paris:^[6]

Clash guitarist Joe Strummer.

Taha believes his early recordings helped to inspire The Clash to create the song Rock the Casbah.^[6] A New York Times music reporter wrote:

These were difficult years since record stores often refused to stock their records "because they didn't want Arabs coming in to their shops."^[3] There was little money; the band performed in suburbs of Lyons.^[3] Taha took a standard patriotic French song entitled Sweet France (in French: Douce France) which had originally been recorded by Charles Trenet in the 1940s, kept the lyrics, but sang it with "furious irony" which irritated many French listeners, particularly coming from a "scruffy, bohemian-looking Arabic singer," to the point where Taha's version was banned from French radio.^[3] The "acerbic" song created a "splash", nevertheless, and won Taha some recognition as a serious artist.^[1] The group never achieved much commercial success and, as a result, Taha had to work a series of day jobs in a factory, then as a house painter, a dishwasher, and later as an encyclopedia salesperson.^[3] They recorded their first maxi album Carte De Séjour in 1983. In 1984, with the help of British guitarist Steve Hillage, the group achieved a "sharp, driving sound" which played well on the radio, and the LP was entitled Rhoromanie.^[4] In his songwriting, Taha wrote about living in exile and the cultural strife associated with being an Algerian immigrant in France.^[2] In 1986, his "sneering punk-rock cover of Douce France" was seen as an "unmistakable protest against the nation's treatment of its immigrant underclass," and caused consternation in French political circles.^[6] His song Voilà, Voilà, protested racism.^[6] Taha has had to cope with anti-Arab sentiment and confusion; for example, the New York Times stated in a front-page story that Taha was Egyptian rather than Algerian, but later posted a correction.^[14] Later, in 2007, Taha-as-an-immigrant was mentioned in France's National Center of the History of Immigration.^[15]

Taha performing in Belgium.

When performing live, Taha wore various outfits, including at one point a leather fedora hat, then later a red cowboy hat.^[2][16] Their second and last LP entitled Ramsa (Five) was released in 1986. The band dissolved in 1989.

Solo years[link]

In 1989, Taha moved to Paris to launch his solo career.^[1][3] At one point he was invited to Los Angeles to record with musician Don Was, who had been a producer associated with the Rolling Stones.^[3] Taha mixed a variety of instruments and styles for his sound. With a drum instrument called a doumbek or darbuka, his new group played Arabic-style beats.^[2] It appeared at one point that Taha might become an "overnight success", but after the release of the album Barbes, sales were disappointing in the United States, possibly because Americans were not keen on Arabic-sounding music during the time of the first Gulf War.^[3]

But American music audience were not ready for Arabic pop after the Gulf War, and Taha's 1991 album Barbes failed to sell well.^[3] In 1993, Taha again worked with Hillage who helped produce Taha's second solo album and helped him achieve "the kind of clubland-raï synthesis." ^[4] Hillage worked on three solo Taha albums from 1993 to 2001, helping Taha return to his "north African roots".^[3] In 1995, he released his solo debut album entitled Olé Olé with Taha looking like an "Aryan androgyne" with dyed blond hair and blue contact lenses, to make a point about anti-Arab bigotry and at the "homophobia of North African culture."^[6] In 1997, his song Ya Rayah became a hit.^[2][11] He performed in the Canary Islands.^[5]

In 2001, Taha released Made in Medina, and a music critic commented that he used a "full and varied instrumental palette" along with "a dizzying vocal facility that transcends whatever style he's plugged."^[4] The album was recorded in Paris, New Orleans, and London with input from the American jam band Galactic.^[4] Taha saw parallels between African and American music and said "New Orleans is like Algiers ... They were both French colonies at one time, and there's even an area there called Algiers," and he noted that Louisiana Zydeco drum patterns were similar to raï music.^[3] Made in Medina combined Algerian roots, techno, pop music, and early rock and punk influences with "remarkable consistency" with previous works, according to Hillage.^[3] There were elements of political protest in his music leading a BBC critic to describe him as a "shit-disturbing artist who risks challenging his own culture as undemocratic."^[7] He wanted to record in New Orleans "because I see parallels between African and American music, and between the music of the African slaves who came to New Orleans, and that of the Gnawas, the black desert tribes who became slaves of the Arabs in north Africa. And New Orleans is like Algiers. They were both French colonies at one time, and there's even an area there called Algiers." He was delighted to find that some of the local Louisiana Zydeco drum patterns are remarkably similar to raï.^[3] A report in The Guardian suggested that Taha had achieved a cult status in pop music.^[3]

Taha's breakthrough album as a solo artist was his bestseller^[3] Diwân, featuring remakes of songs from Algerian and Arab traditions. The album featured traditional instruments like the oud but with a "contemporary veneer of programmed percussion and samples added in."^[3] Taha mixed the oud with strings using a contemporary beat along with guitar work, according to one account.^[11] Taha's album Tékitoi, produced by Steve Hillage^[7] and released in 2004, brought acclaim and recognition from other rock musicians. The title track is "street slang" meaning, roughly, Who the Hell Are You? (from the French Tu es qui, toi ? shortened into T'es qui, toi ?) and the music had "echoes of Joe Strummer", according to a review in The Observer.^[17] In 2005 Taha performed with Robert Plant, Patti Smith and Brian Eno.^[7] He covered The Clash song Rock the Casbah which he retitled with the Arabic name of Rock El Casbah. This song appeared in the 2007 film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer entitled The Future Is Unwritten.^[18] The song suggested rock music as "banned but unstoppable."^[2] And, in one concert, Taha performed the song along with The Clash musician Mick Jones.^[13] The Guardian selected Rock El Casbah as one of the top 50 cover songs.^[19]

Taha played in Morocco in 2005.^[20] In 2007, Taha performed in Canada and a reporter from the Montreal Gazette described his performance while wearing a "pewter pimp suit" which was "stunning":^[7]

A mandolute.

Some critics attribute Taha's unique sound to his use of the mandolute, a mixture of the traditional oud with European fretted instruments. One critic described his arrangements as "no less bombastic" since they mixed North African rhythms and "string orchestra flourishes" with "pummeling big-beat techno, distorted electric guitars, snatches of Bo Diddley, Led Zeppelin and other macho sounds."^[6]

The song Barra Barra from his album Made in Medina was featured in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down as well as in the Games Convention 2008 trailer of the game Far Cry 2. It was featured in the 2007 film The Hunting Party. He performed with the band Dengue Fever.^[21]

His song Garab from Made in Medina was used in the movie The Truth About Charlie in 2002, and also in Blood and Chocolate in 2007. In 2008, Taha was growing increasingly prominent, with greater audiences in places such as Canada, although there were reports that his music had "trouble getting airplay" in France.^[22] He performed with Nigerian artists Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti.^[23] as well as Brian Eno in an anti-war concert in London.^[24] He was described as a ""wild Algerian punk fan" performing among a lineup which read like a "Who's Who of west African music", and was part of "Africa Express", a response to the lack of African musicians at Bob Geldof's Live 8 musical extravaganza.^[25]

In 2009, Taha released Bonjour which The Guardian music critic Robin Denselow described as "calmed down" under a new producer, Gaetan Roussel.^[26] Denselow wrote: "The result is an unlikely set in which Taha appears to be deliberately courting a new, wider market by playing down that wild rebel image."^[26] Denselow felt the music was more "commercial" and "not his most exciting."^[26] It included a "rousing tribute" on his cover song Rock El Casbah to the late Clash guitarist Joe Strummer. In 2010, Taha played in Toronto to large audiences.^[27] Taha performed with Algerian artist Mehdi Haddab who plays the oud.^[28] Taha's song "Habina" was featured in the 2010 film, "It's Kind of a Funny Story." Guitarist Carlos Santana recorded his song Migra which went on to sell over 25 million copies.^[3] In 2011, Taha is touring the United States.^[1]

Reviews[link]

• Music critic Philip Brasor in Japan Times commented that Taha's album Made in Medina featured Arabic "chanting" which was meant to evoke "the generalized chaos of society" and which features "heart-stopping break beats, flamenco guitar, African choruses, crunching hard rock and the inevitable sappy love song."^[4]

• Music critic Robin Denselow felt Taha's Bonjour album was calm -- "he switches between ­Arabic and French in this mix of pleasant ­ballads and novelty pop, with just the occasional reminder of the old passion and anger."^[26] Denselow felt his album Tékitoi (2004) was his "most powerful, direct fusion of rock and north African styles to date."^[11] Denselow wrote:

• New York Times wrote about Taha's song Ah Mon Amour:

• BBC News music critic Martin Vennard described Taha's music as a "seductive mixture of traditional North African, rock, techno and dance music."^[5]

• Canadian music critic Philly Markowitz named a Taha album one of the best in 2005.^[29]

• French music critic Amobe Mevegue described Taha as an "eclectic artist".^[30]

Personal life[link]

Taha has been described as "gregarious" and "quick with a smile" who likes to party throughout the night.^[6] He has a cosmopolitan group of friends including a French girlfriend who recently attended Brown University in the United States.^[6] Taha was quoted as saying "I've never wanted to just stay in my own neighborhood, my own community ... It's a kind of conformism. You have to be adventurous."^[6] He does not like contemporary French cinema and said "I'd much rather watch some dumb Hollywood movie than another haute bourgeois auteurist piece of crap."^[6] He has been a critic of the Bush administration although he has made comments favoring a bombing raid on Iran, and said that "Iran shouldn't be allowed to have nukes."^[6]

Discography and Videography[link]

References[link]

• Plastino, Goffredo (2003). Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-93656-X.

External links[link]

• Rachid Taha Official Site
• Rachid Taha Bio, Pictures and Photos
• Read an album review of Diwân 2 at Allaboutjazz.com
• Rachid Taha "Rock El Casbah" on Youtube
• Rachid Taha song appears on Saturday Night Live, FrenchMusicBlog.com