Album No 1 (Id Ed Was)

The Kabyle group Les Abranis from Algeria has become one of the most sought-after bands on the global beat scene over the years. Founded in France in the late 1960s by two young Algerian Kabyle workers, Shamy El Vaz and Karim Abdenour, Les Abranis rose to prominence in the 1970s with their innovative sound, blending traditional Kabyle music with funk, rock, and psychedelic influences. Their lyrics, often sung in Kabyle, celebrate Amazigh identity and culture, making them a major influence on the North African music scene and beyond.

In 1973, they returned to Algeria to participate in the Festival de la Chanson Algérienne (Festival of Algerian Song). Despite facing opposition from the country's authorities—who viewed them as a societal threat due to their use of the Kabyle language instead of Arabic—their popularity continued to grow. Throughout the 1970s, they released several albums, including the highly sought-after Les Abranis 1977, issued on the Paris-based Algerian label Disques Bordj El Phen. The following year, they released Imité Tayri, recorded with a mix of Algerian and French musicians, including Mohamed Salahedine on sitar, Slimani Smail on oud, and renowned bassists Jannick Top and Tony Bonfils.

In 1983, the group entered Acousti Studio in Paris to record Album No. 1, featuring legendary French drummer André 'Dédé' Ceccarelli—who played with artists ranging from Serge Gainsbourg to France Gall, as well as on numerous library music sessions with Janko Nilovic, Teddy Lasry, and Jacky Giordano—alongside Tony Bonfils on bass. Together, they crafted a formidable groove to support Karim's emotive vocals. Album No. 1 showcases a superb range of sounds, from the reggae-infused cult track "Avehri" to the funk-driven "Achethkhi", and the irresistibly groovy instrumental "Thadoukli." As Rabah Mezouane notes in the album's liner notes, the songs embody "the Kabyle soul, expressed in a skillfully channeled electric flow, naturally fueled by emigrant concerns of love, and socio-political and cultural demands."

Album No. 1 was originally self-released in 1983 and distributed exclusively within the Kabyle and Algerian communities in France and the Maghreb. Over time, it has become a sought-after LP among fans of Arabic music, as it was never reissued—until now. Wewantsounds is proud to bring this gem back into the limelight, newly remastered in Paris by Colorsound Studio, complete with its original artwork.