Gnawa Diffusion

"Shock el hal". Translate " thorn of the soul ", is the name of the new album of Gnawa Diffusion, produced by Amazigh K. K./Tam/Kamiyad. "Shock", retranscription in latin characters of the Arabic word "thorn", is also the English word which means the shock; as for " el hal ", it is the state, the condition, the climate, or the weather; in each to make the dreams with the words.

After their separation in 2007, we did not think of seeing any more the group meeting again, but here they are again, now ten on stage, with the same passion for life. The public answered present this summer during the tour of "20 years" passing by Japan, Algeria, Canada, Germany and France. All the concerts were a real success! Key group of World Music, Gnawa Diffusion is back and will be in 2013 on all the fronts!

Here they are again, as a thorn in the throat! Shock!

But this album, let us speak about it, with at first a small retrospective to put in the honor their 20 years of career; 1992-99: The period is marked by the albums "Algeria", "Bab el oued Kingston", and "Live DZ" in 2002, the texts of Amazigh Kateb talk about dominant themes: Africanity of the Maghreb, double exile, mourning of a country and a father... They are in charge (are loaded) of all the memories left over there. But once back in the native country, if we don't cure totally his nostalgia, at least we tame it and we support it otherwise.

In 2003, the texts of "system Souk" will be more internationalist; they point at the disasters of the American politics and express the rejection of the Bush administration. "Fucking cowboy" at the same timelive and DVD album ( 2007 ) summarizes and consolidates the position of "system Souk"

Then the members of the group Gnawa Diffusion part and Amazigh Kateb produces a solo album " Marchez noir " whereas the other musicians rub themselves in other styles and open to new contributions: "we needed to stand back, to release itself from a certain routine which settled down and imprisoned us; it is also the need to find itself" will say Amazigh.

"Shock el Hal" is dedicated to the children of the Arabic revolutions with a lucid comment and frankly towards the powers of the manipulation:: Gnawa Diffusion remains one of the rare groups which has a political, social, and critical concern, since the beginning.

This sparkling album, make your adrenalin rise from a song to another: sometimes aim, bitting, tonic but always generous, full of humor, with ensorcelants rhythms and brilliant melodies. it fires against the collaborators, the multinationals, the fanatics, the stock exchange of "Wall Street in Paris" and other war makers. We smile to the way full to tighten harshness which has Amazigh to express the love.
Then, what a moment calming with the glowing tribute to Georges Brassens and to its "Auvergnat", played in "Chaabi" style! There are grand shortcuts which only the music succeeds to make; there are no languages anymore but only one same language, understodd of all.

Content and form, more than ever in harmony, without bourgeois aestheticism nor submission to the dogmae. Our history in musics without manicheanism, nor intellectual terrorism. With " Shock el Hal " Gnawa Diffusion return to us reloaded in block, and it is not some lithium!