Rainbow Arabia

With shades of Gang Gang Dance, The Rapture (circa Echoes, not the shitty second album) and Crystal Castles, L.A.’s Rainbow Arabia sound like the in-house band at a Moroccan asylum, fronted by a lusty witch. Like so many bands coming out of the States at the moment, they manage to weld experimentation to pop sensibilities in a way that no band in Britain can come near to at the moment.

Let them Dance could be the theme tune to a North African remake of Knight Rider in which Kit is replaced by a whooping camel that races purposefully around a congested Casablanca. The object of each episode always being to get several Moroccan nu-ravers to a party where they are playing a peak time Zouk set, the highlight of which is the electrifying Omar K. It is intoxicating stuff.

Unlike most folks, Rainbow Arabia don’t get the photo album out for friends, on return from their travels. Instead, they get home, roll up the magic carpet, get the electric guitar out, plug in the old Casio and write songs to sing to their friends, over a shisha and some minty tea, as evidenced by the lovely Holiday In Congo.

Having released two e.p.'s on the increasingly essential Merok, there are unconfirmed rumours that the husband/ wife duo are shacked up in a Harem with Ali Baba working on an album. Definitely confirmed as happening is a May tour of Europe, which if it is even half as mad as the picture up top suggests, will be amazing.

Let Them Dance

Omar K

Holiday In Congo

http://www.myspace.com/rainbowarabia