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Middle Eastern Prog
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judahbenkenobi View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 01 2021 at 19:53
Hi there! Anyone can recommend me a band with strong Middle Eastern or Arabic sounds? I have heard Myrath, and that is more or less what I mean, although I would appreciate something a little less metal. As I write these lines I am listening to Asia Minor's Points of Libration, a Franco-Turkish band. Although it is very good, the Eastern influences are minimal, at least for the layman's ears as far as I have heard it. Any recommendations?
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Very interesting question and since there are a lot of middle and eastern influences on western prog, especially phych prog, it warrants a lot of research for sure. I found an old link here to bands from various countries listed on these forums. 


One of my favorite artists is Loreena McKennett, who, although is not prog, or from the middle east, has proggy elements through a lot of her work. I also like Orange Blossom, although again, small hints of prog but a lot of New Age influences. 
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Interesting question! 

Some British bands like Brand X have had a bit of a Middle-Eastern influence, check out their LP "Masques."  Percy Jones' fretless bass gives the music a nice Eastern feel! 

I'm intrigued by Middle Eastern poly-tones and rhythms, but don't think much of it has come into Western music completely.  Check out this clip! 
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Thanks for the help! I'll definitely check it out!
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Not prog per se, but there are plenty of JR/F artistes of middle-eastern roots who splash their music with "arabian" overtones:

Dhafer Youssef, Tigran Hamassyan, Ibrahim Maalouf, etc...

In prog the half-french/half-Turkish Asia Minor, the Armenian band Artsruni, and a few more.




Edited by Sean Trane - June 02 2021 at 00:19
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Having lived in the Middle East for two years, I found prog thin on the ground.  Mind you, a presenter on Radio Oman was very open to my suggestions but was constrained by the play list (which meant I heard Kansas a lot...)
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Edited by SteveG - June 02 2021 at 05:11
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Originally posted by tigerfeet tigerfeet wrote:

Very interesting question and since there are a lot of middle and eastern influences on western prog, especially phych prog, it warrants a lot of research for sure. I found an old link here to bands from various countries listed on these forums. 


One of my favorite artists is Loreena McKennett, who, although is not prog, or from the middle east, has proggy elements through a lot of her work. I also like Orange Blossom, although again, small hints of prog but a lot of New Age influences. 

Loreena was mostly celtic in her early albums but "The Mask and Mirror", "Book of Secrets" and "Ancient Muse" explore various middle and far eastern themes.

Osiris is from Bahrain.  While their early albums don't show that much local influence, "Visions from the Past" shows more.  


Edited by kenethlevine - June 02 2021 at 07:15
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Although they are American, nobody has incorporated Middle Eastern sounds into prog better than the Secret Chiefs 3. They mixed surf rock, mariachi, prog, metal and other genres as well.

Second album


Third album

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That's who I was going to recommend
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Rajaz by Camel of course is a classic in the desert prog genre, but try out King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizards Flying Microtonal Banana, if you like that they have two more albums released in the last year in that vein. All of it uses microtonal instrumentation and those harmonic minor scales, personally the afforementioned Flying Microtonal Banana is my favorite of the trilogy

Here's a sample from this years release "LW"



Lastly off the top of my head, Turkish band: Altin Gun - Gece 

another good one, a little more psychedelic rock leaning than prog.


Edited by dougmcauliffe - June 02 2021 at 07:34
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Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

That's who I was going to recommend
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I love Agitation Free's Malesch:


Various Area also has middle-eastern vibes.
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dougmcauliffe View Drop Down
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Second both of those ^ forgot about Agitation Free
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Logan View Drop Down
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Yeah, aside from that Area music on Arbeit macht Frei, there's quite a bit of of middle-easterny music on Crac! and Caution Radiation Area.  

Also, for those that like like progressive ethno folk with free jazz elements, Aktuala is good, I think.


Secret Chiefs 3, as mentioned, is a very good one, and is one of my favourite more modern bands.




Edited by Logan - June 02 2021 at 08:12
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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You may like the middle-eastern-themed Krautrock band, Between, in between listening to the other great suggestions here, or you could try Osiris, who really are from the Middle East: Bahrain to be precise. Smile

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - June 02 2021 at 08:55
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Everything I'm finding (especially the newer stuff) might not be considered prog, or even good. Mdou Moctar is from Texas, and the song "Tarhatazed" is repetitious, but because it's 11:23, some think "Oh it's prog - it's long".

Here's someone Middle-Eastern, one of the greatest voices, and its a long song, more progressive (and better) than the earlier reference.

Great thread idea!

Fairuz - Al Bosta



Edited by MortSahlFan - June 02 2021 at 09:34
https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition

https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List
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Ofra Haza had some proggy Kate Bush-like stuff. 

Orphaned Land, Yossi Sassi, anything with lead singer Noa Gruman (Scardust, Soul Enema).

 
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A little while ago I was specifically searching for prog from unexpected countries and among the things I found was this ethno-psychedelic track from 1970s Iraq:
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judahbenkenobi View Drop Down
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Points: 844 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote judahbenkenobi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2021 at 11:12
^^ I was surprised to learn that Jethro Tull had those Eastern sounds, since I had never heard Roots to Branches.

The King Gizzard suggestion was very good, but Aktuala was the one I enjoyed the most.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions! Keep 'em comin' Wink
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