In 1998 three raï singers performed the legendary concert 1, 2, 3 Soleils in Bercy Paris: Cheb Khaled, Rachid Taha and Faudel. A clear honor for the then 20-year-old Faudel Bellula, a young man of Algerian descent born and raised in a Parisian suburb. Faudel was discovered at the age of thirteen, when he performed at parties and weddings with his band Les Etoiles Du Raï. Thanks to the guidance of
… Mohamed Mestar (aka Momo), Faudel developed into 'the new voice of raï'. A contract with the Mercury label led to the albums Baïda (1997), Samra (2001) and Un Autre Soleil (2003). The latter album is also released for a non-French-speaking market under the title Another Sun with an English-language CD booklet. Of the twelve tracks Faudel sings only three in Arabic, swinging up-tempo raï songs with a strong beat. With a lower, warmer voice, Faudel sings the French-language songs in which chanson, pop, arabic groove and flamenco merge. Accessible music with an optimistic and cheerful Mediterranean atmosphere. (SvdP)more
