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Genre: Dabke/minimal synth
From: Jerusalem, Palestine
An incredible, lo-fi electronic album that documents the Intifada of 1987, a civil uprising in protest of the occupation of Palestine. One of the few remaining copies was discovered amongst 5,000 cassettes purchased in 2020 by Mo‘min Swaitat of the label Majazz Project, and it was finally reissued in late 2021. Essential listening.
“Just one week after the outbreak of the First Intifada in 1987, Riad brought his sisters Hanan, Alia and Nariman together in their living room and began recording The Intifada album on equipment he had made himself. One of these was co-written with their friend, the acclaimed Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish.
Riad printed 3000 copies of the cassettes which he began distributing in the Old City of Jerusalem and across the West Bank. The Israeli Army immediately confiscated all the copies they could find, the vast majority of which remain in the military archives to this day. Riad was arrested, interrogated and detained for several months.”
May 28, 2024
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german record label dedicated to re-releasing arabic funk and jazz records from the 70s&80s. i don’t speak a word of arabic but the music is so good. so many infectious melodies. perfect blend of funk, jazz, disco, a little psych rock. perfect cooking music. discovered from the ramy soundtrack (v. good show i also recommend this) which features many songs from them. as a starting point i suggest the album “modern music” by Al Massrieen.
https://youtu.be/am_utNHjclk?si=R4PAGIwTBo_Tn-w_
Jan 18, 2024
You have to give this a spin! Not much information but I found this on IG: "Law Kan by Libyan singer Cheb Arab was released on his debut album in 1991. This obscure, little-known Egyptian artist gives a unique blend of funky disco, reggae, and magical shaabi influences." Source: https://www.instagram.com/radio_tornado/reel/DDl9zWCoWyS/
According to the Youtube video and album cover, I can tell you the song was arranged by Hameed Al Shaaeira حميد الشاعرى, the caption says it was written and composed by The Free Music, from Libya, but that's a whole other story, because Libyan funk was WILD. Will get into that some other day!
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Top Recs from @oliviamutantjohn
I produce and host a radio show called Electrique Boutique, which plays minimal synth, cold wave, dark wave, post punk, diy/private press electronic music, and anything else that fits the vibe. If you’re into Kraftwerk, Closer by Joy Divison, Cold Cave, Molchat Doma, Black Marble… your stripped down, lo-fi electronic music, then maybe give it a listen! It airs every other Friday 6-8 PM PST on 104.9 KHUH Hollow Earth Radio in Seattle, but all of my episodes are archived on my website (in the link).
May 17, 2024
At its best, it rivals the golden years of The Simpsons in my book, and that’s about the highest praise I can give a show. So so funny and creative, relentlessly bleak, and a relatable love of 80s alternative culture.
Jun 3, 2024
My right arm currently has ten bird tats on it. It’s a toss up between these two:
- The indigo bunting, which is dedicated to a friend of mine who helped me through a really bad time in my life. We bonded over birdwatching when we first met, and the indigo bunting is her favorite bird.
- The ivory-billed woodpecker, simply because it’s my favorite bird. Unfortunately extinct, though every few years a possible sighting is reported in the southern US. Its nickname is The Lord God Bird, because that’s what a birdwatcher would shout if they ever saw one.
Jun 1, 2024