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cdr|m's
.:: a klangwerk release ..................................................::.
artist :: muslimgauze
release :: baghdad
year :: 2000
genre :: electronic
label :: staalplaat
catalogue :: muslimlim 014
website :: www.pretentious.net/Muslimgauze
ripper :: kaputze
date :: 04-may-2002
quality :: 192kbps/44,1khz
source :: compact disc
.::.......................................................................::.
01 baghdad 5:09
02 iqbal singh will tatoo you 8:30
03 gopi juggle 4:07
04 algeciras 4:39
05 morphina gobi 7:36
06 an abyssinyan who could kiss fire 6:53
07 sudanezz ruber woman 5:12
08 negative of ethiopia 4:49
09 zion under izlamic law 7:30
10 ceylon daggar 5:12
playtime :: 00h 59m 37s
.::.......................................................................::.
'baghdad' has been long awaited (and changed its name a few times in
the interim) - the final straw was the cloth cover planned. as it is,
this 1998 recording comes in a simple digipak, made enticing by some
subtle silver printing of an elephant and crescent moon on the cover
and calligraphy under the clear tray. and it is the largest muslimlim
release at 2000 (which i for one think puts it into the category of a
general release) - the quality and variety of the music explains
staalplaat's confidence.
the album contains some of those muslimgauze tracks which through
their 'difference' or skill pull an album out from the now large
pack. 'baghdad' takes typically lovely beat (bass, drums, beeploops)
and spoken samples, accompanied by flute, and adds bleeping crackly
modem like electronic shimmers - a great opening. following the long
languid 'iqbal singh will tattoo you' with its complex tabla, female
vocalist and rubbery bass, 'gopi juggle' is another wonder. a rapid
drum pattern, a scratchyclick loop deep in the mix, some twittering
birds (which were on 'iqbal' but less prominent) and the beautiful
descending harp/zither as lead instrument, joined later in the track
by brief comments from the hand drum - a killer track.
the simple, restrained sound of 'algeciras' is beguiling - a beat
loop with some sliding strings behind is very elegant - occasional
processed crowd noises are quite mysterious. 'morphina gobi' revisits
the birds from 'gopi', twittering away together with a high metallic
loop behind the hand drum and eastern singer - and the peacock makes
a late appearance during the extended fade.
'an abyssinian who could kiss fidel' shifts the album into a dubby
mood which takes over the second half. there is a strong bass, drums
and vocal snatches which are looped and phased over a simple boopboop
electro rhythm, creating a driving piece (which i am sure is a remix
of another muslimgauze - i recognise the vocal). the rhythm loop in
'sudanezz rubber woman' has a mesmeric almost industrial feel;
created from various humming loops it is interrupted by distorted
gunshots from other loops, some grabs of guitar and snippets of vocal,
and achieves a static perpetual motion - then ends.
slow, relaxed and moody rhythms run 'negative of ethiopia', toasting
adding to the chilled mood. slightly faster, 'zion under izlamic law'
features a dub-rubbery bass playing over vinyl scratches, a vocal
fragment which keeps bubbling up, echoed organ and guitar chords and
an elongated and loose outro. a mood broken by the wild vocal loops
of "ummbar party" which lead the reggae of 'ceylon dabbar' but
continued in the sinuous bass and organ, smooth drum loop and finely
tuned echo-effects.
this is a muslimgauze for the collector and the aficionado - it has
a diversity of pace, styles and innovations which will intrigue and
please both, demonstrating how far bryn jones could take his
self-imposed restraint. highly recommended.
.::.......................................................................::.
greetings :: sb, qdp, sour, dps, it, rac, dh, sfe, hbz, igr and mgc
.::.......................................................................::.
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