In review--Club Boniche
World Lili Boniche Anthologie World Village Karina Feredj honored her late father, the Algerian crooner and lute player Lili Boniche with the retrospective Anthologie . While I know little about Lili Boniche besides what I’ve read in the liner notes, the songs on this album, especially the Arab-Andalusian songs such as Ana Fil Houb sound familiar to my ears. Have I heard these songs on Putumayo or Rough Guide compilations? Did Souad Massi cover these songs? It’s a mystery. I can see why international audiences, especially in France and Algeria revered this singer back in the day, and even in more recent years. He possesses plenty of style, not to mention sings in different styles and he’s a master of vocal phrasing. The music here dazzles with snaky saxophone solos, jangling ouds, and delicious polyphonic beats. The ballads of yesteryear still resonate today with glittering pathos and unrestrained passion. Anyone who enjo...