John Metcalfe announces new album and reveals first track ‘Xylem’
Tree is set for release on vinyl, CD and digitally via Real World Records on 22 September 2023.
Fri, 26 May 23
Al Samah
Released 15 August 2013
- Syriana (S40 Remix)
- Black Zil (S40 Remix)
- Ipiros (S40 Remix)
- Gharibb (Eccodek Remix)
Liner notes
A digital EP featuring four tracks currently available only on the limited edition LP A Life In Film. To capture the spirit and atmosphere of the vinyl experience, we have created a special edition digital version: Al Samah.
Inspired by the beautiful old gramophones and stacks of LPs they came across in the souks of Damascus when recording their 2010 album, The Road To Damascus, Syriana were keen to explore the vinyl approach with their otherworldly mix of Arabic and Western music.
The transfer from vinyl to digital was made by playing the LP on a high quality turntable, using the best analogue to digital converter available at Real World Studios. Calibrated and tested, no edits or cleaning were applied; it’s the true vinyl experience— the odd pop and click included!
Three of the EP’s tracks were remixed by the microtonal Greek avant garde composer Jimi Papazanateas, whose otherworldly touch brought a very contemporary edge to the music as modes and tone clusters re-work sounds spanning a thousand years of instrumental history. Guitar, double bass and the ancient Arabic qanun mix with ARP 2600 analogue synth from the 1960s and 70s for the band’s characteristically sinous and slightly menacing Cold War retro vibe.
Another remix is contributed by acclaimed Canadian artist Eccodek (Andrew McPherson), with a ‘dubclubstyle’ take on ‘Gharrib’.
‘Ipiros’, played in fast 7/8 time, is a style of music indigenous to northern Greece (a region for which the track is named). It did not appear on Syriana’s full album but has become a crowd favorite at the band’s stunning live concert performances.
From psychedelic Arab drum & bass fusion —with steaming double-bass by Bernard O’Neill— to slow meditations on matters east and west (“surfing United Arab Emirates, really” says Dubulah), Al Samah is an exotic sonic delight.
Further Listening
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Released 17 September 2010
Syriana is more than just a band. It's a concept. An attitude. A perspective. A place where themes of tolerance, liberty and hope come wrapped in Arabic rhythms and played through a Western filter. Where free musical interaction is a given - despite the ironies bestowed by political reality. It's a project without a single dominant instrument. In Syriana the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts. -
Released 20 July 2017
Ten years have passed since the mesmerizingly haunting sound of Syriana’s Road To Damascus was released. In those ten years the warfare and tragedy that has taken over Syria has affected the futures and histories of the people there, and the instigators of Syriana – Nick ‘Dubulah’ Page and Bernard O’Neill – have looked on helplessly as the civilian districts they had walked peacefully around when recording some of the original album in Damascus have been ravaged. This digital remix EP has been put together with 100% of the profits going towards International Rescue: Greece.
Further reading
Classic Sheila Chandra trilogy set for re-issue
British Asian World Music pioneer Sheila Chandra’s landmark trilogy of albums set for re-issue.
Fri, 28 April 23
Sheila Chandra: The pursuit of radical vocal expression
Sheila's trilogy of albums for Real World is being re-issued on CD, and on vinyl for the first time.
Fri, 28 April 23
Guitarist Salif Koné demonstrates three musical styles from Mali
Rokia Koné and Les Amazones d'Afrique's guitarist demonstrates Mandigue, Bamana & Tuareg music.
Mon, 02 May 22