AMMAR 808 – ‘Club Tounsi’ album review: Bass-heavy Tunisian club futurism
THE SKINNY: North Africa has always boasted an extensive landscape of folk music, with Tunisia being particularly rich in its musical history and heritage. In the modern age, these folk traditions are carried on by innovative, contemporary artists like AMMAR 808. A project of Denmark-based Tunisian producer Sofyann Ben Youssef, AMMAR 808 burst onto the scene back in 2018 with his debut release, Maghreb United. His latest effort, however, is much more indebted to his cultural heritage in Tunisia and the nation’s rich tapestry of traditional folk music.
“My story doesn’t start with machines or synths—it starts with sounds of memories,” AMMAR 808 recently wrote in an op-ed for Far Out, and that theme tends to run through the entirety of his new record, Club Tounsi. As the title of the record might suggest, it is chock-full of bass-heavy beats and bombastic electronica, which commands ultimate attention, evoking the sweaty dancefloor of some smoke-filled nightclub. At the same time, though, the producer managed to imbue these rhythmic beats with elements of memory, nostalgia, and his cultural heritage in Tunisia.
In order to achieve that ambitious aim, the producer employs a variety of traditional North African instruments and folk rhythms, along with various collaborators, including the likes of Mariem Bettouhami, Mahmoud Lahbib, and Brahim Riahi, which adds to the intrigue. Certain moments on the album lean further into the traditional world of folk, and others immerse themselves in the nightclub rave culture of the North African nation. The most compelling moments of Club Tounsi, however, are formed of a perfect blending of these two very disparate styles.
Not only does the album reflect the enduring appeal of Tunisian folk, but it also takes those influences into bold new avenues, marrying the traditional and contemporary to create something captivatingly original and utterly euphoric. It is almost impossible to listen to this record while sitting down or standing still; its constant driving beat and engrossing folk leanings sound as though they were created to be played loud, filling dancefloors and commanding attention at every turn. For that, the originality and innovation behind Club Tounsi cannot be disputed.
For fans of: Going into a club and requesting North African folk music off the DJ.
A concluding comment from an ageing raver: “Back in my day, dance music was just a repetitive beat and lots of drugs, nowadays it’s all Tunisian folk fusion and production quality – you won’t even be able to score E’s next!”
Club Tounsi track by track:
Release Date: May 23rd | Producer: Sofyann Ben Youssef | Label: Glitterbeat
‘Douri Douri’: Wasting absolutely no time in establishing the pounding atmosphere of this record, AMMAR 808 throws the listener into the deep end of his commanding rhythm. Combining traditional folk percussion with a driving electronic beat, the album’s opener combines two very distinct worlds with effortless grace. [4.5/5]
‘Ah Yallila’: Continuing to journey through the dancefloors and folk circles of his homeland, the electronic master calls upon the compelling vocal performance of Tunisian singers Mariem Bettouhami and Mahmoud Lahbib, adding new layers of beauty and sonic diversity to proceedings. [4/5]
‘Brobba’: Once again calling upon the skills of Mahmoud Lahbib, the producer expertly crafts a captivating folk riff, using traditional North African instrumentation, only to blend those sounds with a compelling club beat, encapsulating the inherent motivation behind the album. [4/5]
‘Lelliri Yamma’: At the halfway point of this record, AMMAR shows no signs of mellowing out. This song leans further into the Tunisian folk inspiration behind the album, but the bass-heavy beats are never too far away, either. [3.5/5]
‘Aman Aman’: Mariem Bettouhami returns to provide strangely auto-tuned vocals for this synth-heavy track, existing somewhere between early Human League and a smokey late-night club in downtown Tunis. [3/5]
‘Rakeb Aalhamra’: Opting for a more suspenseful, understated opening, this effort is adept at building tension and success, rewarding that building atmosphere with blaring horns and an intensifying electronic beat. [3.5/5]
‘Eddayem Allah’: Returning to the bombastic energy of the album’s early efforts, the penultimate track features an utterly unavoidable groove which demands attention and movement. I would defy anyone to listen to this while sitting still. [4/5]
‘Tichtiri Cherbak’: Closing out the album, Youssef calls upon Mahmoud Lahbib once more, continuing in a similar vein to the other collaborative tracks included on the album. AMMAR 808 certainly leaves the listener on a high; the only thing left to do is flip the record over, start again, and let the party continue. [4/5]
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