Wewantsounds
Assa'd Khoury - Electronic Touches Belly Dance Assa'd Khoury
Long a highly coveted find for DJs and vinyl collectors worldwide, Assa’d Khoury’s 1978 album Electronic Touches Belly Dance has earned its cult status as one of the most sought-after instrumental LPs from the region. This release marks the very first reissue of the album, which has remained virtually impossible to find since its original pressing. Khoury (1953–2020), a Syrian virtuoso pianist, violinist, and leader of the "Spring Band," bridged Levantine tradition with the cosmic, psychedelic textures of the late 1970s. As Dikraphone's Ahmed Khalil notes in his introduction, the music serves as "a sensory portal to a bygone Damascus, where a psychedelic Farfisa and mesmerizing rhythms create a unique groove" that remains remarkably fresh today.
The album’s history is tied to the legacy of the venerable Lebanese Chahine family. Mozart Chahine, son of the inventor of the quarter-tone keyboard, founded the Byblos label to champion music from the region. In an exclusive interview conducted by Mario Choueiry (IMA), he recalls encountering Khoury at his Damascus music store and recording the entire album in a single day. "The musicians were seasoned, much like jazzmen," Chahine reminisces, noting that the session captured a rare, immediate energy between the ensemble members.
The musical journey spans the Arab world, offering electronic reinterpretations of Arabic standards and paying respect to Egyptian master Sayed Darwish. From Mohammad Abdel Wahab’s "Ahwak"—rendered here in an almost psychedelic version—to the Lebanese traditions of Melhem Barakat, the record culminates in the avant-garde "Al Ghaba." An original Khoury composition with a killer groove, "Al Ghaba" is a very funky highlight that has become particularly popular among Arabic music crate diggers. Closing the album in style, it perfectly fulfills Khoury's intent: a sound for modern times, reaching toward a futuristic energy that remains as potent now as it was in 1978. A cult classic which Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue and which will surely please all Arabic groove lovers.
Track List
1 Lamma Bada Yatathanna (Trad.) - Assa'd Khoury 00:04:06
2 Ya Shadil Alhan (Trad.) - Assa'd Khoury 00:04:27
3 Tele't Ya Mahla Nourha (Sayed Darwish) - Assa'd Khoury 00:02:58
4 Ahwak (Mohamed Abdel Wahab) - Assa'd Khoury 00:06:20
5 'Ana Jar (René Bendaly) - Assa'd Khoury 00:02:45
6 Is'al Alaya (Ahmed Sidqi) - Assa'd Khoury 00:05:26
7 Kahil El A'in (Melhem Barakat) - Assa'd Khoury 00:05:46
8 Al Ghaba (Assa'd Khoury) - Assa'd Khoury 00:03:52
Pickup available at Glasgow
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Please note that we are a physical record shop so some items may be unsealed but they are unplayed and brand new. If you would really like a sealed copy, please get in touch with us in advance of your purchase.
