Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah

Description

Wewantsounds is thrilled to reissue the cult album by Ziad Rahbani, Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah, released in 1987. Ziad Rahbani is a living legend of Arabic music and a cultural icon in Lebanon, where he was born. An accomplished musician, pianist, and producer, he is also a renowned playwright and political activist. The album Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah was released in 1987 on the Beirut-based label Relax-in and serves as the soundtrack to two plays written by the famous Lebanese playwright and actor Antoine Kerbaj. The album alternates between instrumentals, short interludes, and songs performed by his usual vocalists, including Sami Hawat, Abbas Chahine, and Nabil Qazan, blending Arabic music with Ziad Rahbani's typical cocktail of jazz-fusion, funk, and groove. In addition to the "James Bond Theme," adapted here as a recurring motif in the soundtrack of "Abtal Wa Harameyah," there are gems like the funky "Break" and "Al Jeel (The Generation)" and the beautiful "Mashhad Al Hob," featuring Ziad on Fender Rhodes accompanied by a stunning flute. Traditional Arabic music is also present with the track "Hake Ad Ma Baddak Fee," followed by "Oghniyat El Gharam," featuring typical oud arrangements and Arabic percussion. This release is exceptional as the album, recorded at Ziad's studio, was only released in Lebanon. It is a classic sought after by DJs and collectors of Arabic groove worldwide. The reissue includes audio remastered by Colorsound Studio in Paris and a 2-page insert with an introduction by Mario Choueiry from the Arab World Institute in Paris.