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CD
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PT 8073CD
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Prog Temple present a reissue of Osiris's self-titled album, originally released in 1982. The tiny Arab island of Bahrain was no hotbed of rock music in the 1970s -- but that's where this superb band hailed from. Equally influenced by top UK progressive bands (Camel, Yes, Jethro Tull) and their own musical heritage, they played a deft and melodic brand of keyboard-heavy prog that could easily have found success in the West. Their debut album was originally issued in a tiny pressing in their homeland in 1983, and makes a welcome return to CD here, together with background notes.
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LP
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PHS 028LP
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2019 repress. First-ever vinyl reissue of this prog/psych masterpiece by cult Arabian band Osiris, their 1982 debut album. A killer blend of '70s-sounding hard, progressive/psychedelic sounds with long, ripping Minimoog and analog synth attacks smashed into mellow vibes and Arabian folky touches, with hard lead guitar, exotic percussion, floating rhythm section, and English vocals. Osiris formed in Bahrain, the small island country in the Persian Gulf, in the late '70s, but its story goes back to 1969, when talented brothers Mohamed and Nabil Alsadeqi formed a funk rock band called Witch. The band broke up when Mohamed left to pursue his studies in Texas, while his brother Nabil left for London. Upon returning to Bahrain in 1980, the two brothers decided to form the first progressive rock band from Bahrain. It was not easy to find like-minded musicians in their town, but they succeeded, with help from Mohammed Shafii (bass), Sami Al-Jamea (keyboards), Mohamed Amin Kooheji (guitar, bass, vocals), and Abdul Razzak Aryan (keyboards). Mohamed and Nabil began working out an original repertoire that would fuse musical complexity, melodic richness, and Arab culture. They took the name "Osiris" from Egyptian mythology, not only for its sound but also for its associations with Arab culture, youth, and fertility. But the definitive Osiris line-up came up when they added a charismatic singer named Isa Janahi. Osiris made their live debut at the end of 1981. Janahi wore flashy, colored clothes and capes and captivated the audience with his presence on stage. The group also used lasers, a light show, and smoke bombs, all deftly handled by friends of the band. Osiris was recorded at the only eight-track studio in Bahrain at the time. It was recorded and mixed in just three days. As there weren't any record pressing plants in Bahrain, the band had to press the albums in the Philippines. They sold 1000 copies in Bahrain, but a few made their way to the USA and the UK, appearing in some rare records list by those in the know. Osiris will please not only those into classic prog-rock in the vein of Camel, Yes, or Pink Floyd, but also those for looking for exotic, psychedelic sounds and beats. Master tape sound. Includes insert with photos and liner notes.
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