Mullah Said is a track by Muslimgauze released in 1998. The song is 12 minutes long and plays the prayers in Arabic, usually heard at a mosque, due to its echo. Muslimgauze is typically abandoning Muslim traditions where in stricter communities, the only music that should be heard is Muslim prayers. So, in this aspect, Muslimgauze is introducing the course of melody and rhythm using his culture’s way of interpreting music. To me, it is the perfect combination of the urban middle east and the modern tribal sounds. This, accompanied by the intense echoes and powerful manipulated vocal samples creating a conflict caused by the build of drums slowly growing into a crescendo. 

Muslimgauze, whose real name is Bryn Jones was a project Jones had made in the early 80’s. His music was often influenced by problems and conflicts seen within the Muslim community, especially as an outsider who made a persona based off word of mouth. He was pro-Palestinian and was fascinated by the Muslim culture, even an obsession with politics of the Middle east. Jones had a very short-lived career as he had passed away from a rare fungal infection in 1991. When he passed away, Jones had 96 titles in his discography. 

As a Muslim myself, I find it very interesting how he integrates the Muslim culture with tribal music as well, as I am very unfamiliar with the combination. Along with that, he uses voice slicing which makes the vocal audio around fit more with the beat and rhythm of the track. 

Citations

Clayton, Jace. “Muslin Gaze.” Bidoun, 3 Dec. 2009, www.bidoun.org/articles/muslin-gaze.  

Leath, Stuart. “An Introduction to… Muslimgauze.” The Vinyl Factory, 25 July 2017, thevinylfactory.com/features/an-introduction-to-muslimgauze/.  

“Muslimgauze – Mullah Said (1998, CD) – Discogs.” Mullah Said , www.discogs.com/release/197827-Muslimgauze-Mullah-Said.