Areski
Areski Belkacem (1940-2026) was a French musician, composer and actor, born in Versailles to a family of Kabyle origin. He was known as Areski, and above all as the musical and life partner of Brigitte Fontaine, with whom he made a run of duo albums in the 1970s. He was later her main composer for many years. He died in June 2026. Areski played drums in Saint-Germain-des-Prés cellars before recording Higelin et Areski with Jacques Higelin, who introduced him to Fontaine.
Comme à la Radio: On Air
Companion to the expanded Comme à la Radio: unreleased ORTF radio sessions from 1969-71 with Areski Belkacem, plus four unissued studio takes, among them two instrumental versions of the title track and a full 10-minute "Leo" with the Art Ensemble of…
Brigitte Fontaine (LP)
2000 re-issue on Saravah of the fantastic 1971 experimental avant-chanson album by one of the most original French artists since the 1960's. Masterpiece on the NWW list.
Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme (LP)
1991 re-issue on Saravah of the excellent 1971 avant-chanson/folk album by two of the most original French artists since the 1960's. NWW list.
Long Courrier
Few lovers stay together for life-and beyond. Just as rare are the artists who manage to keep alive the burning flame of their creative desire. Areski Belkacem is one of those who nurtures in his heart a fire that never dies out, a passion that burns…
Baraka 1980
After the groundbreaking Comme à la Radio, energized by the free jazz tumult of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Brigitte Fontaine and Areski Belkacem produced six albums together or separately between 1972 and 1977. While French pop of the time was mark…
Théâtre Musical 2
Monster Mélodies presents the second in a two-part unpublished recording of a concert by Brigitte Fontaine and Areski Belkacem at studio 102 of the Maison de la Radio dating May 21st, 1973. Areski Belkacem and Brigitte Fontaine, major artists of the …
L'incendie
Vocalist-multi-instrumentalist Areski and singer Brigitte Fontaine are a legendary French musical couple that rose to prominence in the ‘60s, making a series of albums that showcased a boldly unorthodox approach to the art of song.
Taken as a whole t…
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Theatre Musical
Monster Mélodies presents Concert Théâtral, an unpublished public recording by Brigitte Fontaine and Areski Belkacem dating from 1973. Areski Belkacem and Brigitte Fontaine, major artists of the French counterculture, were often be censored or delibe…
Vous Et Nous
Vous et Nous is the ninth album by experimental pop French musician Brigitte Fontaine and the seventh by Areski Belkacem, released in 1977 on the Saravah label. It's an avant-garde double album mixing a variety of instruments and vocal styles, with s…
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Un Beau Matin
CD version. Souffle Continu Records present the first ever reissue of Areski's Un Beau Matin, originally released in 1970. Only those who read all the credits on record liner notes will know the full details: Areski is of course Brigitte Fontaine's…
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Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme
Following their groundbreaking collaboration with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Comme à la Radio, Areski and Brigitte Fontaine began recording almost exclusively together as a duo. Originally released in 1973, Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme is their firs…