Gleimim

Chalaban Gleimim CD

Gleimim, the title of Chalaban's new album, comes from the nickname of Saïd Tichiti's hometown in Morocco, Guelmim.

The city lies on the cusp of the desert and is a melting pot of Berber, Arab and African culture. The band was formed in Budapest 19 years ago and combines the traditions of the band members' homeland with music from the Carpathian Basin.

Their new album sees a return to their African roots, with the discovery of South Moroccan musical influences which stretch even further south to the Sudan region: it is there that on the album the Moroccan guembri meets the kora from Burkina Faso and the Guinean balafon. While the lyrics talk of homesickness, spirituality, and love, the music shows traces of desert blues, afrobeat, and trance-music.

Saïd Tichiti is the best known Central European musician of Moroccan origin and has lived in Hungary since 1998. Chalaban has taken part in various musical projects, from France to Russia, Denmark, and South Morocco.

At the presentation of this album, Tichiti performed on stage with his two children, both born in Hungary, with Naïm playing the violin and Emma on the cello.