Extreme Media Release (1994) For more than a decade, Muslimgauze has been creating their own musical mix of Western and Eastern cultures. Influenced by the Middle East, where music, culture and politics are inseparable, their releases are interesting musically as well as though provoking politically. This Manchester-based group started in the "post-industrial" eighties with the first project being E.g Oblique Graph, a cassette released in 1982. They evolved into Muslimgauze as a response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Before that time they were just interested in music but at that point they turned their attention to politics. This influence has remained a constant in their music. With each release being influenced by the politics and figureheads of Iran/India/Afghanistan/Libya and, of primary concern, the Palestinian's and the P.L.O., there has been and continues to be a constant source of inspiration for Muslimgauze. They listen to traditional Japanese, Middle Eastern and Indian music, and acknowledge the influence of such contemporary artists as Can, T.G., Wire, Faust, Neu and other German electronic music. The members of the group have remained somewhat enigmatic to the public, but the driving force has always been Bryn Jones. Having previously been a graphic designer, he took up a career in music as a consequence of being part of the ground breaking evolution of punk and industrial music in the late 70's. Throughout the years, Jones, as the lead member of Muslimgauze, has produced unique and thought provoking releases, where influences transcend boundaries. Various musicians have been contributors on different releases but it has been the vision of Bryn Jones that has created the identity of Muslimgauze. The first Muslimgauze release was an LP called "Kabul" in 1983, this being influenced by Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. This was soon followed by "Hunting Our With an Aerial Eye" in 1984, and numerous releases on LP followed, many issued by the group's own label, Limited. Muslimgauze signed to Extreme in 1990 and this saw the release of "Intifaxa", the first of many landmark releases on the label. Since then there have been three more Muslimgauze release on Extreme, "United States of Islam" in 1991, "Zul'm" in 1992 and "Citadel" in 1994. This has been augmented by the CD single "Bhutto" in 1992 and the EP "Infidel" in 1994. Each release on Extreme has shown a development and diversity to the music of Muslimgauze. Bryn Jones has said, "The music can be listened to without an appreciation of its political origin, but I hope that after listening the person then asks why it's called what it is and from this finds out more about the subject. It's up to them. Go out and discover." From the official website: http://www.muslimgauze.org/ Betrayal is studio album by Muslimgauze. The cover of the album is close-up image of Yassir Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin shaking hands during the Oslo Accords. From the Staalplaat press release: After it was known that there was coming a peace treaty between Israel and the PLO, Muslimgauze decided to record a completely new album, to replace the announced release 'Shekel Of Israeli Occupation' (originally dedicated to Yasser Arafat) by 'Betrayal'. Never a title was more clearer then this one. It shows how little love is left for the PLO and it will drive many more Palestinians in the arms of the more extreme organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Tracklist: 1. "Nabius" - 4.22 2. "Bloodstain" - 6.06 3. "Bloodstain" - 7.21 4. "Druse" - 7.27 5. "Druse" - 3.34 6. "Nabius" - 5.58 7. "Ramallah" - 10.24 8. "Vensarka" - 6.15 9. "Ramallah" - 11.29 10. "Jaffa" - 6.15 11. "Jaffa" - 7.00 1993 The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzī or durzī‎, plural دروز, durūz, Hebrew: דרוזים‎ druzim) are an esoteric monotheistic religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism and incorporated several elements of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism and other philosophies. The Druze call themselves Ahl al-Tawhid "People of Unitarianism or Monotheism" or al-Muwaḥḥidūn "Unitarians, Monotheists." From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia

• published: 19 Dec 2010
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