It's all halal, baby

>> U-cef opens a two-way door between Morocco and the west

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

There are plenty of musicians who can claim a solid grasp of hip hop, drum & bass, reggae, dub, techno and so on, particularly if they've spent time in both New York City and London. Moroccan-born producer U-cef doubles the stakes, with an equal grasp of not only the aforementioned styles but an equal variety of North African musical traditions, from mystic Gnawa to proto-flamenco Andalusi to the poetry of Melhoun. Judging by the extensive notes (and glossary!) to his new disc Halalium, it's clear that U-cef wants to bring his disparate influences together, to inform and entertain at the same time. The Mirror rang him up at his London studio. Here's just some of what was discussed--

Mirror: Tell me a bit about the summer you spent in Morocco, recording for Halalium. It seems you found a wide variety of people to work with there. You covered a lot of bases, musically, with all the styles you used.

U-cef: That's the area. In reality, every musician, every ear must have a lot of appreciation of different styles of all kinds, hip hop, reggae, drum & bass, traditional. Different languages, as well. I didn't want to get into competition between styles, and I don't belong to one style, anyway. I wanted to do something that expressed my musical journey, my influences and perspectives, and to put a few cultures together on one record. It does work--they related to each other.

M: What about hooking up with the rappers Dar Gnawa for the tune "Hijra"?

U: Actually, I met some guys in the city of Essaouria at a festival. I told them I'd be coming to Casablanca, and I knew the place where they hang out. I went there and I met one of them, but the next time, when I came with my gear, he couldn't be there, so I met some other guys--Dar Gnawa. The other guy, I never got to hear his rap. But Dar Gnawa, they really licked it, you know. They're cool guys, safe, they don't use drugs, they're kinda straight but with very deep intellects and they like talking about issues. On the other hand, on that particular tune, there's Johnny Biz, who found a good English rap for us to put down. It was two angles talking one to the other, if you like.

M: The tune "Halal Monk," which you did solo, is about the feeling of isolation you've felt in London. I've heard others say this, too. Do you think that's just London, or is it symptomatic of life in a major metropolis?

U: Yeah, that what it is, but that's all over Britain. It's the culture. It's not very loud out there, and there's very few places for musicians, unlike New York, where every bar must have three or four bands a night. That makes it easier for musicians to be more in touch with the crowd, and not feel isolated. Because every sound that's played is meant to be shared with others. There's that saying, when a tree falls in the forest, if there's nobody there to hear it, it doesn't make no sound? (laughs) Kind of a profound expression. :

With Dr. Noh, Cozmik Connection and Arkin Allen at the MEG at Club Soda, Thursday, June 1, 9pm, $15