That Muslimgauze book.

 

Ibrahim’s book on Muslimgauze ‘Chasing the Shadow of Bryn jones’ has been out for some time now but I thought I’d give it a little extra publicity boost. Not that anyone I know could afford to buy it – if you are really keen you can buy a whole box set of vinyl and book from VOD for 219,99 Euro. As I may have mentioned before, I don’t get this vinyl collecting thing (or collecting anything come to that) so such behaviour is beyond me.

I was asked to creatively direct the project after the project almost collapsed when the original designer suffered a near-fatal cycle accident and I suppose because I new Bryn well from the Recloose days – we released a number of his works and in effect launched his ‘career’; something for which he was eternally unthankful.

The book is a plush affair beautifully printed and laid out by designer Eric Kessel using original and rare material. ‘Chasing the SHadow’  goes into obsessive detail on the Muslimgauze subject – basically Bryn didn’t do anything but spend time in a local recording studio releasing record after record…which doesn’t make for exciting reading unless you are an MG devotee. I’m not totally convinced that his work deserves such lengthy scrutiny but it does hold together as a ‘total object’ and as such is a good testament to Bryn’s life and work.

http://chasingtheshadow.org/

http://www.vinyl-on-demand.com/

 

“Muslimgauze: Chasing the Shadow of Bryn Jones”

Ibrahim’s encyclopedic book on the history and music of Muslingauze is finally finished “Muslimgauze: Chasing the Shadow of Bryn Jones” will soon be available from amazon:

“A decade after his untimely passing, Bryn Jones, better known as Muslimgauze, left behind a staggering catalogue of published and unreleased music that continues to be appreciated by dedicated fans as well as converts to industrial, techno, hip-hop, dancehall reggae and dubstep styles. Manchester-born Jones was both prolific and controversial. Working alone in his bedroom studio, Muslimgauze’s music highlighted the struggles of the Muslim world against the West, with the Palestine/Israel conflict as the focal point.”

Muslimaguze, Live 1986.

Here’s a recording of Muslimgauze’s first live performance (recorded at the V2 in Dembosch Netherlands on the 20th March 1986). On this occasion Muslimgauze were the support group for bourbonese qualk. Steven Tanza (Stanza, the then drummer with bourbonese qualk) was playing percussion and I ( i think…) was playing bass guitar.

Bryn (Jones) was so traumatised by the event that he swore never to play live again.

Download the 30Mb MP3 file here

In the photograph right to left, Bryn Jones (with Kevin Keegan style haircut) and Steve Tanza (on the drums).