{"product_id":"assad-khoury_electronic-touches-belly-dance_2026_mdl","title":"Electronic Touches Belly Dance","description":"Long coveted by DJs and vinyl collectors worldwide, the album Electronic Touches Belly Dance by Assa'd Khoury (1978) has achieved cult status, establishing itself as one of the most sought-after instrumental records in the region. This is the very first reissue of a record that has remained virtually unfindable since its original release. Khoury (1953-2020), a Syrian virtuoso pianist and violinist, leader of the Spring Band, fused Levantine tradition with the cosmic and psychedelic sounds of the late 1970s. As Ahmed Khalil of Dikraphone points out in his introduction, the music is \"a sensory gateway to a bygone Damascus, where a psychedelic farfisa and captivating rhythms create a unique groove\" that retains a remarkable freshness. The story of this album is intimately linked 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 promote the music of the region. In an exclusive interview with Mario Choueiry (IMA), he recalls meeting Khoury in his music store in Damascus and recording the entire album in a single day. \"The musicians were seasoned, almost like jazzmen,\" Chahine recalls, emphasizing that the session captured a rare energy and spontaneity among the ensemble members. This musical journey traverses the Arab world, offering electronic reinterpretations of Arabic classics and paying homage to the Egyptian master Sayed Darwish. From \"Ahwak\" by Mohammad Abdel Wahab (here revisited in an almost psychedelic version) to the Lebanese classic by Melhem Barakat, \"Kahil El A'in\", the album culminates with the avant-garde \"Al Ghaba\". An original composition by Khoury with an irresistible groove, \"Al Ghaba\" is a funky and punchy track, particularly appreciated by collectors of Arabic records. Closing the album with flair, this track perfectly fulfills Khoury's intention: a decidedly modern sound, drawing on a futuristic energy that remains as powerful today as it was in 1978. A cult classic that Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue and which will undoubtedly delight all lovers of Arabic groove.","brand":"Assa’D Khoury","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57040393929048,"sku":null,"price":23607135.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/4943\/0360\/files\/3700604784814.jpg?v=1775682412","url":"https:\/\/vinyles.com\/en-us\/products\/assad-khoury_electronic-touches-belly-dance_2026_mdl","provider":"Vinyles.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}