I had the distinct feeling of being in a village or an old section of a town that's alive with music, food, real conversation and the joy of life. The music is varied, but consistent with its roots, of course. When hearing a disc like this, whether or not you understand the language, you know the depth of meaning. Though sung in Arabic, it's as if you can comprehend it on a higher level.

It's obvious that Seba (the family name) takes their music very seriously. They obviously keep their ears open and absorb many major influences. "Te Dekoum," incorporates hip hop flavor and a bit of reggae mixed in, while "Zina Zina" is funky like some of the best acid jazz or instrumental funk so many of us revere. As the disc progresses to "Nomades," a meditative, deeply spiritual sound comes through.

Check out the sensual rhythm in "Loukane." The peace that comes from this track is incredible. It's probably the most "solemn" of tracks on the CD. That's certainly not to suggest sadness. If anything, it's a calm joy with a penetrating vocal that reaches you wherever you happen to be.

On that note, the vocals charge and call out for you to come in. That's a quality I miss in American popular music today. When a listening audience settles for less, the results are evident. The spirit of Seba is alive and well and you can't miss it.

On the whole, this is some of the happiest music I've heard in a while. World beat enthusiasts need to get on this, and many will. It's a spicy combination of various influences with Algeria and France as the backbone of its content. This is truly global grooving!