The music flows so harmoniously, as if it was naturally blended in the world - Moroccan songs with a Mellotron-Choir and Bass Sequencer. This music is a hybrid from both unique foreign and already familiar beauty. One shouldn't allow oneself to fall completely into the music, because it is far too fascinating to first hear it as a stranger might. (Esotera 8/98) Noujoum knows that the road from Gibraltar isn't a direct one-way from the West to the East. And, words about their music might be empty, except for the fact that the music really takes off in an exciting direction, one can thank Allah for that. (Deutscher Rolling Stone 05/98) Noujoum Ouazza is the tightrope walk between tradition and modernity: the Arabic elements entwine skillfully with the Western styles from Bass -n- Drum to Ambient. (Musikmarkt 29/98)
"Sleepless In Tanger" is the soundtrack for "Someyas' Wedding," the Arabic director Abdessalam Akaaboune's last movie. "Sleepless in Tanger" is an accoustic journey through modern North Africa. Unlike any folkloristic music, this creative CD unites the modern internet-age with millennium-old musical archetypes from the Maghrebinian Rif-Berber and is inspired by the Moroccan tales of Paul Bowles. Noujoum Ouaza describes with his music the modern but timeless face of the fabled city at the Street of Gibraltar. He connects Arabic pop-music with the newest trends and developments from Drum -n- Bass to Ambient, culminating years of experience as a member of several bands. For many years, Noujoum Ouazza has been the singer and guitarist for the Moroccan cult-band Lem Chaheb, who decisively influenced the sound of the new North-African pop music in the 70's and 80's. Without groups like Lem Chaheb or Nas El Ghiwane and Jil Jilala, current trends like e.g. the Rai of Cheb Khaled or Cheb Mami would be unthinkable. These bands along with Noujoum Ouazza, built the bridge to the here and now of Global Village.
Today, Noujoum Ouazza belongs to the Dissidenten live-line-up (he participated already in the mid-80's as a member of Lem Chaheb in the recording of "Sahara Electric"). Some musicians from the band participated in the "Sleepless In Tanger" album collaboration as well. Because of this, some tracks may be reminiscent of the Dissidenten's "Arabic Phase". One composition ("Beirut") does date from this phase of composition. Yet, Noujoum Ouazza proceeds into new musical territory with "Sleepless In Tanger." At the beginning of 1999, Noujoum can be seen and heard on tour in concert with Malo (Zap Mama) and Marlon Klein (Pili Pili, Dissidenten).
Parallel to this tour is the opening of a Maxi in conjunction with the premiere of the radio version of the title "Flame." "Sleepless In Tanger" was recorded and produced in Casablanca / Morocco by the producer-team Urban Dervish, consisting of Frankfurt studio wizzard Hammond Schneider (who is an old friend of Dissidenten) and Uve Müllrich (the bass player of Dissidenten). With determination, they led Noujoum Ouazza down the path to the inter(national)-net of today's Global Village.
Tracklist :
01. If you love, love the moon
02. Sleepless in Tanger
03. Flame
04. Politician (For Haj al Mohammedie)
05. Prayer
06. Herstory
07. Monkey Business
08. Beirut
09. El Nino
