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2LP
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KR 086LP
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The furious double LP Al Azraqayn documents Karkhana (with members of Konstrukt, The Dwarfs Of East Agouza, Land Of Kush, Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet, "A" Trio) at their very best and intense: live on stage. Consisting of seven of the most adventurous and innovative artists from the Middle Eastern experimental scene (and a veteran jazz percussionist from Chicago), Karkhana are surely among the most unique and interesting ensembles around. When Maurice Louca (The Dwarfs Of East Agouza), Sam Shalabi (Land Of Kush, The Dwarfs Of East Agouza), Umut Çağlar (Konstrukt), Mazen Kerbaj ("A" Trio, Johnny Kafta Antivegetarian Orchestra), Michael Zerang (Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet), Sharif Sehnaoui ("A" Trio, Orchestra Omar) and Tony Elieh (Orchestra Omar, Johnny Kafta Anti-Vegetarian Orchestra ) come together to perform and/or record, the result is as diverse as their individual musical backgrounds. The septet's sound is neither retro nor avantgarde, not folklore nor jazz or rock -- it's an astonishing blend of all these different styles and elements where seductive oriental melodies can intensify and turn into a psychedelic freakout, fueled by reeds, guitars and electronics, only to re-start again from quiet sounds till the ensemble seeks catharsis in a collective improv outburst. Defying simple categorization, and in lack of proper terms for the intense experience of Karkhana's music (as well as the member's other projects mentioned before), someone labelled it "free Middle Eastern music". And it's not surprising that these skilled musicians are at their best live on stage -- as documented on this live recording from a furious, highly energetic concert at Bimhuis/Amsterdam.
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LP
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UNROCK 015LP
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Bitter Balls, the second full-length from Karkhana, the group featuring members of Dwarfs Of East Agouza, A "Trio", Konstrukt, Chicago Tentet, Land of Kush, among others. It perfectly shows the ongoing incredible progression and artistic flow the group is currently working under. Four new, fine-tuned compositions of crystal clear and deep, dark, distorted unrock compositions -- electric and acoustic. The cross between old school and contemporary oriental improve-prog. Ripe fruits of love and wisdom. Mastered by Harris Newman, sleeve design by Mazen Kerbaj. One-time pressing.
The ensemble: Sharif Sehnaoui - electric guitar; Sam Shalabi - electric guitar, oud; Michael Zerang - drums, percussion; Mazen Kerbaj - trumpet, electronics; Maurice Louca - organ; Tony Eleh - electric bass; Umut Caglar - zurna, guembri, percussion.
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LP
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UNROCK 009LP
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Very fine tuned, almost Mediterranean, Middle Eastern mainly string orchestra. A supergroup with members of Dwarfs Of East Agouza, Konstrukt, "A" Trio, Johnny Kafta Anti-Vegetarian Orchestra, etc. Umut Çağlar, Sam Shalabi, Sharif Sehnaoui, Mazen Kerbaj, Toni Elieh, Maurice Louca, and Michael Zerang unleash a blend of fiery and free psychedelic forms and un-jazz, with various shades and traces of shaabi, tarab, sufi, and post everything -- timeless, rock-free, kraut-jazz. Recorded during a wet, cold and stormy November night in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 2016. Cover art by Mazen Kerbaj. 140 gram vinyl; Limited edition of 500 (one-time pressing).
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LP
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HOL 113LP
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Featuring some of the most innovative players from Beirut, Cairo, and Istanbul, Karkhana met for the first time in Beirut in 2014, bringing together influences from the three major experimental music scenes of the region and beyond. Through their live shows, the band's seven multi-instrumentalists build a transcendental atmosphere developing what could possibly be called free Middle Eastern music. Shades and traces of shaabi, tarab, sufi, and much more are heard in the distinct blend of free jazz and psychedelic krautrock they've created. Recorded and mixed by Matt Bordin at Outside Inside Studio -- in only two days -- and mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering Studio in Chicago, For Seun Matta is the first studio album by the band following the 7" Nafas released on Omlott (2016) and Live At Metro Al-Madina released on Sagittarius A-Star (2015). Featuring Sharif Sehnaoui on electric guitar, Sam Shalabi (The Dwarfs Of East Agouza) on oud and electric guitar, Maurice Louca (The Dwarfs Of East Agouza) on organ and synth, Umut Çağlar (Konstrukt) on zurna, gralla, bamboo flutes, and percussion, Mazen Kerbaj on trumpet, Tony Elieh on electric bass, and with the recent addition of Michael Zerang on drums. "I wish I could track down more of this tantalising outfit's music to share. . . . This Middle Eastern super group first got together to celebrate the music of Egyptian surf guitarist Omar Khorshid -- who was also a key figure in Oum Kalthoum's orchestra -- but their remit has expanded somewhat and now they're fully committed to outer-perimeter explorations in krautrock-leaning, cosmic free jazz" --John Doran, The Guardian. Edition of 500.
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