ABDUL & THE GANG

Five figures with a hint of mischief. Shoes still filled with sand from their wanderings in the Moroccan desert. The scent of the souk, as well as the aroma of their Buick Riviera's engine, ingrained in their clothes. It's impossible to gauge their eyes behind those dark glasses, but suspicion is in the air. Everyone is now frozen by their mere presence. With a mission prepared in advance, each of these musical rogues knows their role. Take control of the instruments left on the ground, make room for the connections of the synthesizer, capturing the attention of every eye present. Those closest to what will become the center of action can read its label: Roland E-40 Oriental. Allows playing on the quarter-tone. As the first hypnotic melodies emanate, the audience becomes as enchanted as a snake charmed by a snake charmer. A weapon of mass possession. With it, dancing becomes an irresistible command. In a spirit of unity, the trance of gnawa has taken over. Conveyed by radical funk grooves, beldi rhythms have emerged as the artistic directors of this contraband music that everyone seemed to anticipate. Under the dust, the brilliant production is heard. Traditional percussion blended with electronic beats, halted since the takeover by those who introduced themselves as Abdul & The Gang, spotlights and strobes have resumed their luminous fury, intensifying flashes when rock guitars are unleashed.