Country : Morocco Label : On the Corner Genres and styles : Africa / Bass Music / Electronic / Maghrebi Year : 2020

Son of Sun

· by Rupert Bottenberg

A savvy producer and dedicated digger into his region’s vinyl history, Casablanca’s Abdellah M. Hassak has been stirring up anticipation for his first release under the Guedra Guedra banner. At home in Casablanca, he’s already an established figure, on the one hand for more sober sound project, in film, theatre, and dance, on the other for bumping club nights and notable collabs.

His record hunting is in pursuit of much more than just that elusive perfect break, it’s an act of semi-formal cultural research, assembling auditory puzzle pieces for a bigger, deeper picture of the Maghreb and Africa at large – soundtracks, pop oddities, field recordings, archival mementos, you name it. It’s the raw material from which he’s built his debut EP, six tracks of rattling percussion, antsy polyrhythms, cheerful chants and pop-song fragments, and a ritualistic disposition that ratchets up to the almost riotous.

Hassak isn’t overly concerned with being at the very vanguard of electronic music on his debut. The airhorn on “Juke Lockstep” seems almost old-timey, for instance. He is, however, seeking to channel the exuberant spirit of the places he loves, past and present, and the vitality of the tracks that have resulted is undeniable. 

Latest 360 Content

The girls slay Turbo Haus

The girls slay Turbo Haus

marcel – ô fornaiz

marcel – ô fornaiz

Bella White: a newer country bluegrass star

Bella White: a newer country bluegrass star

Classic Rock… Hard Rock… Bob Rock… The Damn Truth!

Classic Rock… Hard Rock… Bob Rock… The Damn Truth!

Dicko Fils: on the road to modernity for the Fulani people

Dicko Fils: on the road to modernity for the Fulani people

Ana Krstajić et Joey Reda – Confluence

Ana Krstajić et Joey Reda – Confluence

CC Duo/collectif9 – Re/String

CC Duo/collectif9 – Re/String

Jan Lisiecki – Preludes

Jan Lisiecki – Preludes

Ariane Roy – Dogue

Ariane Roy – Dogue

Model/Actriz – Cinderella

Model/Actriz – Cinderella

Major.Moran – Bunker à ciel ouvert

Major.Moran – Bunker à ciel ouvert

Ariane Moffatt – Airs de Jeux

Ariane Moffatt – Airs de Jeux

Molt – King Lobster Krew

Molt – King Lobster Krew

Ensemble ArtChoral, Matthias Maute : Art Choral vol. 6 : Moderne 

Ensemble ArtChoral, Matthias Maute : Art Choral vol. 6 : Moderne 

The 24 Voices of MIMC: A Preview of The 2025 Edition With Artistic Director Shira Gilbert

The 24 Voices of MIMC: A Preview of The 2025 Edition With Artistic Director Shira Gilbert

Men I Trust – Equus Asinus

Men I Trust – Equus Asinus

Rose Cousins’ communion with nature, the piano, and love

Rose Cousins’ communion with nature, the piano, and love

Matthias Maute and Choral Art: From Baroque to Modern, ArtChoral’s Latest Releases as Seen by Its Artistic Director

Matthias Maute and Choral Art: From Baroque to Modern, ArtChoral’s Latest Releases as Seen by Its Artistic Director

Frank Zappa’s Roxy & Elsewhere + Apostrophe = Rox(Postroph)y played by Dweezil’s Band

Frank Zappa’s Roxy & Elsewhere + Apostrophe = Rox(Postroph)y played by Dweezil’s Band

Othello Tunnels – Tunnel Rock EP

Othello Tunnels – Tunnel Rock EP

The Damn Truth – The Damn Truth

The Damn Truth – The Damn Truth

Cope Land – Expire

Cope Land – Expire

OSM | Genesis in Yoruba, Philip Glass and Angélique Kidjo style

OSM | Genesis in Yoruba, Philip Glass and Angélique Kidjo style

Subscribe to our newsletter