ALBUM RELEASE
DANCE GROOVES FOR THE WEARY
Beirut, 2021
Two or The Dragon's 2nd Album Release
Dave Foxall wrote for "A Jazz Noise":
"Dance Grooves For The Weary is punctuated by deep moments of brief stillness and near-emptiness, highlighted by low-volume microsounds, like dust settling. Tiny instances of aftermath and truncated peace. But every pause, every silence is inevitably broken; often harshly… except for the last, of course, but even after the final dramatic silence, you’re waiting for more… Inspired by a piece written by Kobeissy in autumn 2020, after, “the most violent summer in Lebanon’s history,” this is no gentle dronescape. Dance Grooves… is full of suddenness, an unpredictable cycling of moments that surprise and even shock; sonic events from a clear blue sky. This is brutally stirring, visceral, overwhelmingly emotional and whether you call it ‘dance music’ or not, your body will want to move." “DANCE GROOVES FOR THE WEARY” marks a departure from Two or The Dragon’s usual trademarks. The prevailing attitude here is one of sobriety and caution, undoubtedly as a result of the events that started dismantling the fabric of Lebanese society, from October 2019 to the present day.
Kobeissy's solo piece, on which this EP is based, was composed in the Fall of 2020, following THE most violent summer in Lebanon’s history. As “DANCE GROOVES FOR THE WEARY” progresses, the initial sense of sobriety and caution seems to have run its course. The physical detonation of the drum machine - an agent provocateur of sorts - paves the way for an emotionally charged finale, with faint traces of a Bizet melody and a grinding, distorted daf. At the heart of this new work is a desire to provide solace for the megalomaniac, the tired, the frightened, the bored, and the hopeful alike. A slap in the face of Lebanon’s ongoing, undeterred collective amnesia. |
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Two or The Dragon:
Abed Kobeissy: buzuq, effects, drum machine
Ali Hout: floor-tom, kick drum, Iranian daf, paper clips
"Dance Grooves For The Weary" is based on a solo composition by Abed Kobeissy, written and performed for the "Morphine x Beirut" fundraiser in October 2020, re-arranged and adapted for duo by Two or The Dragon in December 2020.
Recorded and mixed by Fadi Tabbal at Tunefork Studios, Beirut.
Produced by Two or The Dragon and Fadi Tabbal.
Mastered by Cedrik Fermont at Syrphe, Berlin.
Artwork by Jana Traboulsi.
Two or The Dragon wish to thank Jana Traboulsi, Pablo Giw, Joss Turnbull, Fadi Tabbal, and Ziad Nawfal. Love and thanks to Gaelle Khalife as well, for all her help and support.
Abed Kobeissy: buzuq, effects, drum machine
Ali Hout: floor-tom, kick drum, Iranian daf, paper clips
"Dance Grooves For The Weary" is based on a solo composition by Abed Kobeissy, written and performed for the "Morphine x Beirut" fundraiser in October 2020, re-arranged and adapted for duo by Two or The Dragon in December 2020.
Recorded and mixed by Fadi Tabbal at Tunefork Studios, Beirut.
Produced by Two or The Dragon and Fadi Tabbal.
Mastered by Cedrik Fermont at Syrphe, Berlin.
Artwork by Jana Traboulsi.
Two or The Dragon wish to thank Jana Traboulsi, Pablo Giw, Joss Turnbull, Fadi Tabbal, and Ziad Nawfal. Love and thanks to Gaelle Khalife as well, for all her help and support.