Various

Various – À Moi La Liberté: Early Electronic Raï, Algérie 1983–90 (Born Bad, BB160) is a thrilling document of raï at the moment it plugged into the future. Before raï became globally commercial, producers like Rachid Baba Ahmed revolutionized Oran’s sound by pushing synthesizers, drum machines and electronic textures (with a clear Jean-Michel Jarre-era fascination) into a genre rooted in popular tradition. This 2LP compilation captures that electric tipping point: voices full of yearning and swagger floating over looping keys, punchy rhythms and a youthful sense of possibility—music that feels simultaneously street-level and sci-fi. The tracklist spans foundational names like Cheb Hindi, Houari Benchenet, Cheb Kader and Chaba Fadila, giving you an immersive map of an “electronic awakening” that fueled raï’s explosion. For fans of global electronic history, Maghreb pop culture and dance music that rewires your ears, BB160 is a spectacular, crate-essential listen.