Juldeh Camara / Fantazia

From Hackney, East London, Fantazia are a band of Algerian and British musicians playing the music of oud player and multi-instrumentalist Yazid Fentazi. Their second CD Mul Sheshe, released in 2006 on World Village, to international critical acclaim, sees Fantazia emphasising simultaneously the deep Algerian roots of their music and the soundscapes of contemporary urban London in which they live and work.



Andy Kershaw BBC Radio 3 In Session 18 Sept 2005: “An effortless fusion of east and west…It’s a great record”



Songlines, Sept-Oct 2005: “Mul Sheshe is full of strong, colourful tunes and powerful arrangements in which the raw, traditional sound of Algeria meets the modern West…This is Fantazia with a strong voice and a new direction”



From the beginning, Fantazia have never ceased to evolve. Their all-instrumental debut CD The Lost Place (released on the band’s own label, Mimouna), got excellent reviews and considerable airplay in the UK and Europe. Since then they have expanded into a powerful multicultural nine piece, featuring Yazid Fentazi's strong compositions, excellent musicianship, soaring vocals and a potent rhythm section.