A Voice from the Streets

Nota Noche, real name Ahcène Azzouz, is a self-taught musician performing in the public spaces of Algiers. Mastering the Algerian mandole, he blends chaâbi classics with original compositions and global influences.

His style, honed through street practice and improvisation, comes to life in this triple album — raw, authentic recordings that capture the spirit of the city. Discover his roots and his journey.

Learn more in the booklet

"Chaâbi : A Living Tradition"

Born in the early 20th-century Casbah of Algiers, chaâbi fuses Arabo-Andalusian roots, poetry, and North African rhythms. It voices joy, struggle, and everyday life, popularized by masters such as El Hadj M’Hamed El Anka and Amar Ezzahi. An evolving tradition, it adapts to the times without losing its soul.

"Inspirations and Influences"

Nota Noche draws inspiration from Amar Ezzahi’s improvisational mastery and closeness to the people, feeling his mandole as an extension of himself. He also weaves in world sounds from Spain, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, along with the energetic chants of MCA supporters — all rooted in the sincerity of chaâbi.

"MCA: Pride and Passion"

Founded in 1921, MCA symbolizes Algerian pride, with green for hope and red for love. Its ultras’ chants express loyalty, resistance, and passion. Nota Noche adapts them for the mandole, shifting from stadium energy to intimate melodies while preserving their fire.

"Amar Ezzahi’s Legacy"

Born in 1941, Amar Ezzahi redefined chaâbi with his free, sincere virtuosity, unafraid to blend influences such as The Godfather theme or Katyusha. His philosophy inspires Nota Noche to honor tradition while exploring new cultures through The Roots and The Journey.

"The Casbah Spirit"

The UNESCO-listed Casbah of Algiers, a hub of resistance during the 1954–1962 war, still resonates with the sound of chaâbi.
MCA, an icon even before independence, carries that same spirit.
Nota Noche’s album connects past resistance to present pride through chaâbi and chants.

"Green Corsairs & Verde Leon : Stadium Chants Reimagined"

MCA ultras create chants of passion, protest, and loyalty, born in the stands with drums and tifos. Echoing the legacy of Algiers’ historic corsairs, Nota Noche reinterprets them in The Colours, bridging the raw energy of stadiums with the intimacy of chaâbi cafés.

Album Highlights

From Streets to Global Ears

This project captures Nota Noche’s street-honed sound for a wider audience, recorded outdoors over three months with minimal mastering to keep it real.

The triple album features:

- The Roots : Chaâbi heritage mixed with original compositions.

- The Colours : MCA stadium chants reimagined on mandole.

- The Journey : Instrumental fusions drawn from Mediterranean traditions.

Perfect for fans of sincere, cross-cultural music.

Discover more

Instrumental interpretation of Amar Ezzahi’s classic “Esmeralda,” played solely on the mandole.

Buy

Volume 1 :
The Roots

Tribute to chaâbi origins with North African classics and new originals.

Volume 2 :
The Colours

MCA stadium chants reworked on mandole, declaring love, hope, and protest.

Volume 3 :
The Journey

An instrumental voyage linking cultures through the thread of chaâbi, evoking places and emotions.

ALGERIAN STREET CHAABI