Sandtrafikar & Zuriff Moussa
Release date: November 11th, 1997
Both CD's are released as part of the Muslimgauze subscription series. Copies to subscribers will ship mid November.
Some people already started worrying: where is the next Muslimgauze CD I subscribed for? The delay is totally on our side! We wanted the next two releases to be different in packaging. And we went all the way: These two new CD's are packed in handmade digipak. They are not factory made by Van Der Steeg or Upton, but printed here in Amsterdam with CD trays glued on them. The paper is called 'beer', because it is made of beer. Printing in black with silver on one and gold on the other. Various lacquers have been used. These two are likely to replace the other Staalplaat items on your coffee table.
Musically these are two distinct releases.
'Sandtrafikar' has 7 tracks of a rather subdued character, with lots of spoken word elements thrown in the mix. This reflects the dubby and 'ambient' character of Muslimgauze.
'Zuriff Moussa' is along the lines of the recently released 'Jaal Ab Dullah' CD, on Soleilmoon. Much more up tempo, aggressive and violent. This one firmly roots itself in many of today's dance music developments, with elements from trip hop to disco.
Will he who says that Muslimgauze doesn't change come forward!
Press release from Staalplaat.
The following appeared in Chain D.L.K.
Lately there has been an opportunity to subscribe to a series of releases by the same artist. As a matter of fact both the Sandtrafikar (Staalplaat cd-7tx-51') and the Zuriff Moussa (Staalplaat cd-24tx-69') releases are part of the Muslimgauze subscription series. They have been released in limited quantities of 700 and 800 copies, respectively. The two CD's are packed in handmade digipaks with CD trays glued on them. The paper used for the cover is called "beer" because it is made of beer and the printing is black with silver on one and gold on the other side. Also various lacquers have been used and finally they are likely to replace the other Staalplaat items on coffee table. Musically the two releases are distinct, yet both seem to explore soundscapes which are more based upon ambience. Of course the primary element, the rhythm, is not missing anywhere but there are more songs focusing also on atmospheres made of electronic sounds (sounding both digital and analog) as well as of sampled programs of original Middle-Eastern sources and instruments. Moreover both albums are somewhat more moderns-sounding. Well the others do not sound outdated or whatever old, but these releases (less the former and especially the latter) feature some new elements of trippy, dubby and acid ambient music. The sounds are somewhat slightly more dance-oriented, still keepin' their own non-compromised forms and not throwing away the real and strongly politically-persuaded Muslimgauze essence!
review by: Marc Urselli-Schdrer
Chain D.L.K. Magazine (Issue #5)
The following appeared in Artefakt.
Against all expectations Muslimgauze tie Sandtrafikar only conditionally to preceding experiments. The crucial difference lies in the use of the spoken word, to which it is permitted not only to spend itself as incomprehensible decoration merely but to function as a superficial component to function. The whole album almost gets one narrative character consequently, whereby however a not irrelevant part of aggressiveness is lost. Instead I hear Arab spoken passages, whose sense remains completely masked, which are thus bare extension that of equipment. Even more I therefore become conscious through enormous rap in the Hip Hop of the danger to seesaw as sympathizer to a music, whose message doesn't want to reveal itself to me on the basis of my own incompetence. And nevertheless I twitch fascinated. 'Zuriff Moussa' is strange. The easily suitable pop is suitable with great security to a mild dance-educate-terror brilliantly. I know not more to write. I can recommend them mutually despite the differences. Both covers triumph in a twofold sense: the rarely used paper captivates with tactile benefit and precious pressure and the organization obtains the respective basic character: ' Sandtrafikar' strangely beautiful, 'Zuriff Moussa' virtually elates.
review by: Erik Bennedorf
see also Sandtrafikar, Zuriff Moussa, Fatah Guerrilla, Narcotic, Sandtrafikar, Vampire Of Tehran & Zuriff Moussa
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