Bread and Barrels of Water - Outlandish

From BC about this album:

Outlandish might, to many not be scene as an "obscure" or "unknown" group, but given their completely unheard status in the states, I figured I would open up some ears to this gem of an album, more so then that, the defining single, Aicha.

To us in the western world, the history of the song Aicha is relatively unknown, but in the arabic world, its listed as one of the best songs of the 1990s, it was preformed orginenally by Khaled Hadj Brahim. Aicha infact won Song of The Year in 1996 at the arabic version of the Grammy Awards. Many wondered if it was good enough infact, to take to the english speaking world and see what would happen. Ideas of that dropped off soon after it won Song of the year. There is no real explaition of why.

However, in 2003, a band called Outlandish, decided to take the risk. Oultandish is a danish hip hop group, two of its members are devote muslims, which I believe is how the song ended up in their ears in the first place. The band blended the song to their style and set about recording. They stayed as close to tradition as possable with the track, all the elements that were there the first time around are there, the catchy upbeat sounds, the sing along friendly chorus, even the hindu that is used in song, all of it. Such a beautiful song, now loved the world over.

It is because of that song I first heard this album "Bread and Barrels of Water" and its one of the reasons I love this disc so much, I find that the rest of the album is a nicely contrasted mixture of west and middle east pop/hip hop with just enough social awareness to keep people aware they they aren't turning a blind eye to the world, songs are formulated like this; mostly two of them singing and one rapping, sometimes two. depending on the song. "Dirty Dirty East" had me up on my feet in the first 20 seconds, which is saying something because I suck at dancing.

I would say this album is for anyone thats up for something that was a hit everywhere but the US, which makes me confused because I find nothing at all wrong with it that could keep it from being played here, but thats me I guess.

Artist: Outlandish
Album: Bread and Barrels of Water
genre: Pop/Hip Hop/Soul

Bread and Barrels of Water by Outlandish

By BC