(CSB Productions/L’Autre Distribution/VeevCom) 2026.
CD/digital
World music/folk/rock/various genres
Ahead of us is a release that can’t be heard very often, and represents a sublimation of multiple styles and forms. Behind it is singer-songwriter Sidi Bemol, who is also known as Hocine Boukella, and this is, believe it or not, his 13th album to date.
The current album is a project that connects the Berber traditions of northwest Algeria with the basic culture of Quebec. An important role is played by the use of the guellal, a key instrument in Oran’s folk music. In the making of the album, great help came from the following musicians: Hocin Boukella, Youssef Boukella, Abdenour Djemai, Maamoun Dehane, and Mehdi Askeur.
The album features 11 songs, which can be seen as a connecting concept, even though they are mostly different from each other. Different in atmosphere, approach, tempo, rhythm, and even influences. Some are more „hypnotically“ pronounced and feel like you’re taking part in some kind of trance between the performers and the potential audience, others are much lighter and have a narrative dimension, some are more oriented towards a „rock“ sound, and others lean towards a more classic folk style. Overall, we experience an interesting journey and a compelling musical experience, greatly contributed to by all the people involved in creating this material. The album is suggestively convincing, no matter how much your taste leans toward or away from these kinds of sounds.
Pred nama je jedno izdanje koje se ne može čuti tako često i koje predstavlja sublimaciju više stilova i formi. Iza njega stoji kantautor Sidi Bemol, koji je takođe poznat kao Hocine Boukella, i čije je ovaj aktuelni, verovali ili ne 13-ti album po redu.
Aktuelni lbum predstavlja projekat koji uključuje povezanost između Berberske tradicije severno-zapadnog Alžira, i bazične kulture Quebeca. Važnu ulogu ima implementacija guellal-a, bitnog instrumenta koji se koristi u Oran’s folk muzici.
U samoj realizaciji albuma, velika pomoć je usledila od sledećih muzičara, čija su imena : Hocin Boukella, Youssef Boukella, Abdenour Djemai, Maamoun Dehane i Mehdi Askeur.
Na albumu se našlo 11 pesama,koje se mogu tretirati kao povezujući koncept, iako su uglavnom različite među sobom. Različite u atmosferi, prilazu, tempu, ritmu, pa i samim uticajima. Neke su „hipnotički“ naglašenije i deluje kao da učestvujete u nekakvom transu između aktera i potencijalne publike, druge su znatno laganije i imaju narativnu dimenziju, treće su mnogo više orijentisane ka nekakvom „rock“ soundu, četvrte ka klasičnijem folku. Sve u svemu prisustvujemo zanimljivom putovanju i zanimljivom muzičkom iskustvu, kojem su puno doprineli svi akteri koji su učestvovali u realizaciji prisutnog materijala. Album je sugestivno ubedljiv, ma koliko vaš ukus bio naklonjen ili manje naklonjen ovakvim zvucima.
jul 26 2026
Sidi Bemol -„Guellal Montreal“
(CSB Productions/L’Autre Distribution/VeevCom) 2026.
CD/digital
World music/folk/rock/various genres
Ahead of us is a release that can’t be heard very often, and represents a sublimation of multiple styles and forms. Behind it is singer-songwriter Sidi Bemol, who is also known as Hocine Boukella, and this is, believe it or not, his 13th album to date.
The current album is a project that connects the Berber traditions of northwest Algeria with the basic culture of Quebec. An important role is played by the use of the guellal, a key instrument in Oran’s folk music. In the making of the album, great help came from the following musicians: Hocin Boukella, Youssef Boukella, Abdenour Djemai, Maamoun Dehane, and Mehdi Askeur.
The album features 11 songs, which can be seen as a connecting concept, even though they are mostly different from each other. Different in atmosphere, approach, tempo, rhythm, and even influences. Some are more „hypnotically“ pronounced and feel like you’re taking part in some kind of trance between the performers and the potential audience, others are much lighter and have a narrative dimension, some are more oriented towards a „rock“ sound, and others lean towards a more classic folk style. Overall, we experience an interesting journey and a compelling musical experience, greatly contributed to by all the people involved in creating this material. The album is suggestively convincing, no matter how much your taste leans toward or away from these kinds of sounds.
sidibemol.com
veevcom.com/en
Serbian version :
Pred nama je jedno izdanje koje se ne može čuti tako često i koje predstavlja sublimaciju više stilova i formi. Iza njega stoji kantautor Sidi Bemol, koji je takođe poznat kao Hocine Boukella, i čije je ovaj aktuelni, verovali ili ne 13-ti album po redu.
Aktuelni lbum predstavlja projekat koji uključuje povezanost između Berberske tradicije severno-zapadnog Alžira, i bazične kulture Quebeca. Važnu ulogu ima implementacija guellal-a, bitnog instrumenta koji se koristi u Oran’s folk muzici.
U samoj realizaciji albuma, velika pomoć je usledila od sledećih muzičara, čija su imena : Hocin Boukella, Youssef Boukella, Abdenour Djemai, Maamoun Dehane i Mehdi Askeur.
Na albumu se našlo 11 pesama,koje se mogu tretirati kao povezujući koncept, iako su uglavnom različite među sobom. Različite u atmosferi, prilazu, tempu, ritmu, pa i samim uticajima. Neke su „hipnotički“ naglašenije i deluje kao da učestvujete u nekakvom transu između aktera i potencijalne publike, druge su znatno laganije i imaju narativnu dimenziju, treće su mnogo više orijentisane ka nekakvom „rock“ soundu, četvrte ka klasičnijem folku. Sve u svemu prisustvujemo zanimljivom putovanju i zanimljivom muzičkom iskustvu, kojem su puno doprineli svi akteri koji su učestvovali u realizaciji prisutnog materijala. Album je sugestivno ubedljiv, ma koliko vaš ukus bio naklonjen ili manje naklonjen ovakvim zvucima.
Objavio Branimir Lokner • International reviews • • Tags: Branimir Lokner, Guellal Montreal, Sidi Bemol, Time Machine Music, VeevCom, World Music