The prefix 'Cheb' ('young') has long since abandoned nearly fifty-year-old Khaled Brahim. But because he also scored a big hit under that name in the Netherlands in 1996 (Aïcha), he is mainly known under that name here. Within the raï Khaled still has a star status, one that he also underlines in compositional terms with each new album. Liberté is certainly no exception to that rule. Elvis and
… Johnny Halliday may be his childhood heroes, on this album the singer draws more towards his North African roots. Gnaoui, for example, is a tribute to his first musical love, the Moroccan gnawa. Hiya Ansadou, with his repeated call to optimism, resembles a Zikr, the prayer of the Sufis. Pre-programmed dance beats are largely omitted on Liberté. Instead, Khaled opts for an organic and spiritual album. Perhaps the best he ever recorded. (PdK)more
