Review: Various Artists - Ostowana Of Organic House Vol. 1 (Ostowana)

Consider this compilation a 'Best Of' if you will as it's got some great tracks on it, perhaps it's time to fully switch to organic?

Some people have trouble with the term/phrase 'organic house' or even the concept but when it comes of Ostowana they are the best when it comes to the traditional ethnic grooves from North African, Moroccan, Arabic and putting artists together. 

Not exactly a cast of 1000s but in these 10 tracks you've got the best of Aziz Ozouss, Blade SA, Cranky, DeDeXgErande, Desert Raven, Enam, Exit Onli, Hassan Tays, Hind Ennaira, Khalid Elhamri, Lilyass, Omary, Sabry, Salah Fafah, Seguya Sadam, The Black Types, The YONA, DJ SK.

Even so, it's hard to fault 'Nkosi Ya Wolo' (see review HERE) and 'Ayamargi', that came out late last year (see review HERE) but as a 'best of', it's all great especially if you like a bit of late night 'shopping' in 'The Kasbah' (Lilyass featuring DJ SK); definitely one for our man in Marrakesh (DJ Bob Hill, not Herbert Lom) or get lost on the camel train with those 'Desert Echoes' (Blade SA).

And if you need a 'companion' to last months' 'Ostowana Of Afro House Vol. 1' (see review HERE) you need not walk through the Saharan sands any further.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Ostowana Of Afro House Vol. 1

Release date: 19th March, 2025

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST098

Format: Digital

Review: Cranky, Salah Fafah Feat. Hassan Tays - Ayamargi (Ostowana)

A tribute to Raiss El Hajj Mehdi Ben Mbark by Cranky and Salah Fafah featuring Hassan Tays in the form of 'Ayamargi' is more than uplifting.

I can't say I know much about Amazigh music but one of their heroes, the 90 year old Raiss El Hadj Mehdi Ben Mbark (المهدي بن مبارك), the Moroccan religius singer and acknowledged pioneer of Amazigh religious song, has passed away in Casablanca.

Apparently his passing is in somewhat mysterous circumstaces which is made the more tragic as he'd been working on this update of his song 'Manik Arad skergh Ayamargi'.

The aim of fusing "modern elecctronic sounds" and traditonal North African folk/world with the vocals of Hassan Tays is definitely in the "job done" folder and equally a great companion to othe releases on Ostowana, just like the 'Angelito EP' by Miserez (see review HERE) as we all encounter sunrises and sunsets in out lifetime. 

Artist: Cranky, Salah Fafah Feat. Hassan Tays  

Title: Ayamargi 

Release date: 8th November, 2024

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST080

Format: Digital