Turquoise | 6:35 |
Diamond | 8:10 |
Jade | 8:09 |
Amethyst | 8:58 |
Emerald | 5:53 |
Quartz | 7:29 |
Jasper | 7:47 |
Topar | 8:55 |
Ruby | 7:25 |
Zircon | 9:26 |
Sapphire | 5:54 |
Crystal | 7:03 |
Composed by Raed Yassin
Paed Conca: Clarinet
Tony Elieh: Electric Bass
Stephane Rives: Soprano Saxophone
Sharif Sehnaoui: Acoustic, Electric Guitars
Raed Yassin: Double Bass, Synthesizers and Electronics
Recorded, mixed and mastered in 2016 by Fadi Tabbal at Tune Fork Studios in Beirut, Lebanon
Commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum (New York), each track in the album is inspired by the geometric properties of gemstones. This 12 part soundtrack - which incorporates acoustic guitar, double bass, clarinet, electric bass, saxophone, and synthesizers - provides an alternative way to experience the exhibition But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa (Guggenheim, UBS MAP).
Photo by Tony Elieh
As a musician, Raed Yassin has been a key member in the Lebanese underground music scene for many years. One of the organisers of the Irtijal Festival of Experimental Music from its early beginnings, he founded his concept music label Annihaya in 2009. He is a member of several bands and groups, including “A” Trio, PRAED among others. As a double bassist, he developed a personal and independent extended technique, by employing different preparations and objects on his instrument. His interest here relies heavily on textures, energies and vibrations, the density of volume and sound, rather than conventional melodic structures.
Also an electronic musician and experimental turntablist, his approach to vinyl ranges from deconstructing Arab pop music, to reexamining the traditional music archives of countries from the global south.
With his duo band PRAED (along with Paed Conca), he acts as the lead singer and synth player, merging free jazz with psychedelic rock and Egyptian Shaabi music.
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