Lemchaheb | Daouini b/w Khayi (Cléopatre)

 

Formed in the early 70s, Lemchaheb, like their better-known counterparts, Nass El Ghiwane and Jil Jilala, were a Moroccan folk group. (The original members were in part introduced to each other by Nass El Ghiwane's Mohamed Bakhti.)

But, more so than Nass El Ghiwane or Jil Jilala, Lemchaheb seems to have felt a strong kinship with Western-influenced Moroccan rock and pop pioneers Golden Hands and Les Frères Mégri.

This undated single is likely from 1974, an assumption we make based on a reference to an album titled Daouini of the same year on French Wikipedia. (This entry lists Mohamed Bakhti as Lemchaheb's "Président de formation.")

The music is almost unbelievably groovy and heart-wrenching, especially the first track, though both are pretty hard-hitting.

(Listen to "Daouini")

(Listen to "Khayi")