Labess

About

Founded in Montreal in 2007, Labess built their sound around the Algerian chaâbi tradition and then threw the doors wide open. Flamenco, gypsy rumba, Afro Latin rhythms and folk music from across the globe all find their way in, held together by rich brass arrangements, infectious grooves and the warm, expressive voice of singer, guitarist and songwriter Nedjim Bouizzoul. Lyrics move between Arabic, French and Spanish, and the emotional range is just as broad: one moment celebratory, the next deeply moving. The band's roots stretch from the streets of Algiers through Quebec, Colombia and beyond, and that journey feeds directly into their themes of migration, identity, exile and freedom. Their album Dima Libre, whose title translates as Always Free, puts that last theme front and centre. Live, they are known for passionate, improvisational sets that turn the whole room into a shared celebration.