Artist: Muslimgauze
Title: Sycophant of Purdah
Label: Staalplaat
Cat#: 17491
Code#: archive nine (unreleased material)
Format: Cd digipak
Retail Price in Eur: 13,80
"Part of Staalplaat's ongoing Muslimgauze archive series, Sycophant of Purdah was submitted in 1994 then “replaced” by another master Bryn Jones felt more fit for release. Sycophant then languished in the vaults until present, nearly a decade after Jones' passing. It is no secret that Jones was a prolific artist and that numerous labels combined could not keep up with his output and will take several more years more for them to do so.
Sycophant opens with a radio broadcast on the on-going Palestinian crisis set to breakbeats and marmalade-thick bass lines; the forward to another sonic treatise on struggles of the Muslim world. Tracks that follow are more consistent with Industrial stylings of the Muslimgauze oeuvre including Zealot, Blue Mosque, Silknoose and Izlamaphobia. Industrial, in the context of Muslimgauze, is often characterized by tightly woven percussion loops with scant variance while melodies hover. Additionally, tracks like “Radif, Avaz And Dastgah” and “Mossad Evil” are another facet of Industrial, Industrial in the classic sense of the word meaning, 'mechanical', 'machine like', with little in the way of melodic overtones. The commonality is rigorous, dogmatic structure that are nonetheless hypnotic and engaging. Because the above albums vary, despite being of the same sub-genre, Sycophant could be considered a 'missing link' that ties them together—with ethno-breaks added for variance. None of the track listings, handwritten by Jones, are repeated on any other release hence Sycophant of Purdah is a 'must have' for fans and collectors."
Text by Ibrahim Khider, author of “Muslimgauze: Chasing the Shadow of Bryn Jones”Track List:
1. Jerico Loop-Bin Duplicator.
2. Enzyme Bangalore.
3. Sycophant Of Purdah.
4. Mehmet Quarter.
5. Radif, Avaz and Dastgah.
6.
7. For Muntaz.
8. Dupatta.
9. Jerico Loop-Bin Duplicator.
10.
11. Cairo Mercedes.
12. Enzyme Bangalore.
13. Mossad Evil.
14.
Artist: Muslimgauze
Title: Sulaymaniyah
Label: Staalplaat
Cat#: 17492
Code#: archive seven (unreleased material)
Format: Cd digipak
Retail Price in Eur: 13,80
"Sulaymaniyah is part of Staalplaat's ongoing Muslimgauze archive series, masters originally submitted in 1997, then “replaced” by what became Vampire of Tehran released early in 1998. It was not uncommon for the prolific Bryn Jones to replace masters with what he believed to be a more fit release. Short of two tracks, “Fez Tishan” and “Hamas Pulse of Revenge”, this is Vampire of Tehran with nine additional, unreleased tracks. Because Sulaymaniyah was “replaced”, it was stored in Staalplaat's vault's until a decade after Jones' passing and it will take several more years before they have completely caught up with additional “replaced” and unreleased masters.
Sulaymaniyah is stylistically varied and has ethno-electro, ethno-breakbeat along with several dub cuts. Ethno-electro/breaks are analogous to urban dance/hip hop with catchy, distortion ridden breaks and heavily edited ethnic music, cut-up and reassembled into Frankenstein hybrids—sometimes further complicated with dub elements. Wanton mixtures of styles are one of many defining qualities of Muslimgauze music. Like “replaced” masters, versions of tracks such as “Arabs Improved Zpain” and “Arabs Return Zpain” demonstrate Jones' near obsessive search for the right sound. For those who appreciate the latter, rhythmic ethno-breaks and dub phase of Muslimgauze circa Tandoori Dog, or completists, Sulaymaniyah is a “must have”.
Text by Ibrahim Khider, author of “Muslimgauze: Chasing the Shadow of Bryn Jones”Track List:
1. Full Metal Yashmak.
2. Disinfekt.
3. Nadir.
4. Satsuma Tablet.
5. Arabs Improved Zpain.
6. Fez Tishan.
7. Arabs Return Zpain.
8. Black Izlamic Garb.
9. North Africa Is Not So Far Away.
10. The Fly That Constantly Bites.
11. Terracotta Bowl.
12. Zealot Box.
13. Strap Sticks of Dynamite Around Her Body.
14. Enchanté, Monsieur.
15. Clamour.
16. Come Inside Lahore.
17. Full Metal Yeshmak.
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