Track Listing

1. Shiraz
2. Astahel
3. Arhil
4. Khallini Biljao - Maya Nasri
5. Ya Rayah [Sonar Remix] - Dahmane el Harrachi
6. Dub4me - Soap Kills
7. Cleopatra in New York [Zim Zam Mix] - Carol C., Nickodemus
8. Elama - Yasser Habeeb
9. Fly - Ilhan Ersahin
10. Hanina [Jasmon Mix] - Jasmon, Mohamed Mounir
11. Desert Road - Justin Adams
12. Lili S'En Fout - Toufic Farroukh,

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17320 in Music
• Released on: 2004-01-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
The electrification of acoustic Middle-Eastern music dates from the 1980s, when Algerian rai superstar Cheb Khaled (now known simply as Khaled - the dropped honorific meant "kid" or youth) released his groundbreaking masterpiece, Kutche. It is now commonplace to hear melodies and instruments as old as the desert sands juxtaposed against languid, trippy vocals, while a relentless 4/4 beat is pounded home via sampled, backbeat-driven snares and weighty bass lines. However, the 12 artists on this set for the most part manage to have their fun without bruising the delicate, mysterious beauty of the original traditions. Songs from Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Lebanon, Algeria, Turkey, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and a couple of Western locales emerge transformed by clubby synth vamps and anchored by feisty, two-ton bottoms. The treatments come across as sexy, droll, playful, startling and/or tragically hip, and just about any listener will certainly find something to enjoy. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

A sexy, mysterious album. Definately worth a listen.
I was initially attracted to Putomayo's Sahara Lounge because I was idling the minutes away in a record store and it had just been released. "Shiraz" pulled me into it. I found out later that that song, the opening piece, was the product of Ramin Sakurai, of Supreme Beings of Leisure fame. It's a great way to kick off what is largely a sensual, intimate-feeling album. While Silk Road Café feels like relaxing "store" muzak, this album has a less restrained feel. "Organic" and maybe even "earthy" describe it well, despite the obvious touch of electronica running through the songs. Other album favourites are "Fly" for its poignant melody and Ilhan Ersahin's stripped-down vocals. Since I like French-language music, I enjoyed "Lili s'en Fout" with its strong beat and alternating French and (Arabic?) lyrics. For the first week of owning this disc, I put all of the songs on my MP3 player and walked around a rainy campus silently, taking the combined effect in. It felt like I was in a trendy (yet solemn) music video, which was nice. Overall, the album is better suited to lovemaking than dancing, but that's why it's called "Sahara Lounge." Cozy up to it.

Good, but wish there was more included that was ACTUALLY from the the Middle east/North Africa
I really love the Putumayo series, they generally have wonderful compilations, and generally put together quite a nice set of music for the region they are representing with thier CD compilations. I like the fact that when you buy a CD, part of it goes to charity.

I liked many of the tracks on this CD, the problem is, its called Sahara Lounge, and a lot of the tracks are not even from the Sahara region. There are tracks from the US as well as the UK. There are also many, many from Lebanon and a sampling from a few other middle eastern/north african contries, but for the most part there is nothing from Iraq, Iran, Israel, Syria, also north Africa which contains most of the Sahara region is very poorly represented.

For the tracks that were put in, most of them are pretty good, and would make a nice backround for a hip middle eastern themed dinner, or music to play in an exotic lounge.

Nice compilation. Does not duplicate Arabian Travels.
I'm not sure why another reviewer claims that there are "quite a few" of the same songs on this compilation as on Arabian Travels 1. I have both and can vouch that there is only one track that the albums have in common, the Sonar remix of Dahmane El Harrachi's "Ya Rayah". Indeed, the two albums have a very different vibe, overall. Sahara Lounge is more organic with a rootsier flavor and Arabian Travels has a more electronic, techno flavor. Both are nice albums with different approaches to similar movements in the world and electronica music scenes.