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Loading...Loading...The Exquisite Corpse Game
Tracklisting
Fold 1: Khyam Allami
Fold 2: Karda Estra
Fold 3: JG Thirlwell
Fold 4: Kavus Torabi
Fold 5: British Theatre
Fold 6: Bob Drake
Fold 7: Weasel Walter
Fold 8: Dominique Leone
Fold 9: Appleblim
Fold 10: Katharine Blake
Fold 11: Max Tundra
Fold 12: Mikrokosmos
Fold 13: Craig Fortnam
Exquisite corpse is a method by which a collection of images is collectively assembled. Each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence until finally the whole completed picture is revealed. This technique invented by the Surrealists is similar to the old parlour game, Consequences, in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution.
The Exquisite Corpse Game is a unique musical collaboration based on these rules, featuring Khyam Allami, Karda Estra, JG Thirlwell (Foetus/ Manorexia/ Steroid Maximus etc), Kavus Torabi (Knifeworld/ Cardiacs/ Guapo), British Theatre (Oceansize/ Biffy Clyro), Bob Drake (Thinking Plague/ 5uu’s/ The Science Group etc), Weasel Walter (The Flying Luttenbachers/ Behold The Arctopus), Dominique Leone, Appleblim, Katharine Blake (Mediaeval Baebes/ Miranda Sex Garden), Max Tundra, Mikrokosmos (Levitation/ Dark Star/ Cardiacs), Craig Fortnam (North Sea Radio Orchestra/ Arch Garrison).
Once the first ‘fold’ was recorded each artist was given only the last 20 seconds of the previous composition and had to continue by recording instrumental music in any way they saw fit. Whether they chose to develop themes or take an obtuse 90 degree turn was entirely up to them.
Each ‘fold’ had to be a response to the 20 seconds they were given and be between one and four minutes long.
None of the contributors heard the entire piece until the final ‘fold’ had been completed
Taken individually, The Exquisite Corpse Game represents thirteen brand new, original compositions by thirteen innovative musical artists but taken as a whole the entire album has a kaleidoscopic, dream-like yet homogenous quality. Themes and ideas seem to repeat and reoccur throughout in a way that could not have been known to the contributors. There is an ebb and flow throughout that sounds both pre-concieved and deliberate.
The Exquisite Corpse Game will be released by Believers Roast on September the 2nd but pre-orders will be shipped at least one month ahead of this date.
Pre-order online by clicking here! Visit the Believers Roast facebook page here!
Upcoming shows in Cairo and Alexandria
10th Apr 2013 – Maryam Saleh
Beit El-Raseef, Cairo, EG
Playing percussion with Maryam Saleh singing Sheikh Emam
https://www.facebook.com/events/136311753217893/
13th Apr 2013 – Tamer Abu Ghazaleh
Darb 1718, Cairo, EG
Playing Drums with Tamer Abu Ghazaleh
https://www.facebook.com/events/295296213934055/
15th Apr 2013 – Solo
Beit El-Raseef, Cairo, EG
Resonance/Dissonance (solo) – Double Bill with Maurice Louca.
https://www.facebook.com/events/371382162977438/
17th Apr 2013 – Maryam Saleh
Teatro, Alexandria, EG
Playing percussion with Maryam Saleh singing Sheikh Emam
https://www.facebook.com/events/136240416559211/
19th Apr 2013 – Solo
Jesuits Cultural Centre, Alexandria, EG
Resonance/Dissonance (solo)
https://www.facebook.com/events/485731804826562/
Mansion, Zoqaq Al Blat, Beirut
On 1 April, I’ll be performing Resonance/Dissonance solo at a wonderful new venue, Mansion, in Beirut. An old uninhabited villa, it is now being used by artists, designers, curators, and researchers working there, all of whom contribute time, labor, and money to the ongoing renovation, thanks to the efforts of Lebanese artist Ghassan Maasri. For more about Mansion, click here for an article published by Al-Akhbar newspaper.
The poster was designed by my dear friend Jana Traboulsi, and silkscreen prints will be available for sale at the show to help raise money to furbish a silkscreening studio at the Mansion.
Beirut is in desperate need for these kinds of initiatives and it’s an honour for me to have the chance to make a small contribution to such efforts.
Reel Iraq programme changes due to UK Visa issues
Dear friends,
Once again, the UKBA (UK Border Agency) has continued in their tradition of causing difficulties for UK events organisers attempting to invite guests from abroad by refusing their guests’ visa applications at the last minute before their concert dates.
Iraqi musicians Hasan Bressm and Lord Erragal, and poet Sabreen Kadhem have all had their visa applications refused, for reasons that are as yet unclear or unknown. It is needless to say that I, alongside the organisers of the Reel Iraq festival, am extremely disappointed and frustrated.
It has been noted for a long time that the UKBA’s formalities for visiting artists and entertainers are cumbersome and frustrating, not to mention expensive! And while the Home Office, UKBA and their outsourced company World Bridge who deal with UK visa applications have made efforts to simplify the procedure, their total disregard for the efforts to make events such as Reel Iraq Festival actually happen is disappointing, to say the least.
At the end of the day, the whole purpose of events such as the Reel Iraq festival is to benefit UK audiences and enrich cultural activities in the UK, this is why Reel Iraq events are supported by major institutions including the Arts Council England and the British Council.
This is the third time that a UK based project, supported by major institutions, which I am involved in suffers because of UKBA Visa procedures (the previous were Double Duo UK Tour in April and Alif Ensemble UK Residency and Tour in July, both 2012), and it frustrates me to have to write about it publicly.
For this reason, tonight (21 March) I will be performing at The Forest Cafe (Edinburgh) and tomorrow (22 March) at Greyfriars Kirk (Dumfries) to stand in for both Hassan Bressm and Lord Erragal, whilst DJs Tyne and Justin Polls will perform at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe (23 March). The rest of the programme will go ahead as planned.
Best,
Khyam Allami
Maurice Louca & Khyam Allami at Irtijal ’13, Beirut
Maurice Louca (Electronics) and Khyam Allami (Oud) first began working together in Cairo in May 2012 while preparing material for their principal collaboration project, the Alif Ensemble.
During this period their experiments took many roads, some of which led to Alif Ensemble songs whilst others remained to be explored further in an alternate context.
At this special semi-improvised performance, hosted by Irtijal’13, they will re-explore some of this material live for the first time, joined by special guest Lukas Ligeti on drums.
The evening is a triple bill also featuring There is No Why and City of Salt.
Click here for the Facebook event.
Poster by Amr Qenawi.
Khyam Allami & NYOI Ensemble 2013
After a great experience collaborating with the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq in the UK last summer, I’m very happy to announce that we are currently planning another collaboration for 2013.
For this new project I will be composing a handful of new works for Oud and a small chamber ensemble from the NYOI, alongside some arrangements of pieces from Resonance/Dissonance and contemporary renditions of some Iraqi Maqam. We will workshop and perform the new works in Amman, Jordan in the summer and hopefully take the project on tour across the Arab world before the end of the year.
We were very fortunate to receive a grant award from AFAC to make this project happen, but there’s still a lot fundraising to do. If you are interested in supporting the project, or know anyone who might be interested, please get in touch.
Resonance/Dissonance on YouTube in HD
Dear friends,
As many of you know, Resonance/Dissonance is a composed work, a whole, made up of seven parts. It was originally released as a CD + DVD which contained a filmed performance of the entire album in a huge East London warehouse with wonderful acoustics.
Only a few videos from the DVD were published online around the release but today we are making the entire album, both CD & DVD, available for streaming on YouTube in HD.
If you like the album, please support independent music by purchasing a copy of the album (digital or physical CD + DVD).
Limited copies of a signed CD+DVD are available directly from Nawa Recordings. Standard copies are available from the following online retailers:
Amazon (CD+DVD)
Cargo Records (CD+DVD)
Eka3 (CD+DVD)
iTunes (MP3)
Amazon (MP3)
Spotify (MP3)
Enjoy!
Khyam
Resonance/Dissonance DVD Video (full playlist)
Resonance/Dissonance CD Audio (full playlist)
Alif Ensemble – Hasat (Pebble) – Live in Beirut Dec 2012
Alif Ensemble – Hasat (Pebble)
Live at Metro Al-Madina, Beirut, Lebanon, 29 December 2012
Recorded by Jawad Chaaban, Mastered by Khyam Allami
Poem by Sargon Boulus
www.alifensemble.com | www.facebook.com/alifensemble
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh – Vocals, Buzuq
Khyam Allami – Oud
Maurice Louca – Electronics
Khaled Yassine – Drums & Percussion
Bashar Farran – Bass
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh – Takhabot (Live in Cairo)
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh – Oud, Vocals
Shadi El Hosseini – Piano
Mahmoud Waly – Bass
Khyam Allami – Drums
Supporting SUNN O))) at CTM Festival Berlin
Dear friends,
I’m very excited to announce that I’ve been asked to perform at the closing concert of Berlin’s CTM Festival on 3 Feb 2013 in support of the mighty SUNN O))). The festival line up is awesome and it’s truly an honour to be part of such an eclectic and extravagant mix of artists.
Hope to see you there!
Eka3@Beirut Festival, 20-29 Dec, Beirut, Lebanon
I’m very happy to let you know that I’ll be performing in 5 concerts as part of the Eka3@Beirut Festival later this month.
My performance schedule is below, for full festival programme please click here.
20th Dec 2012 – Yukunkun, Beirut, LB
Playing Drums with Tamer Abu Ghazaleh
23rd Dec 2012 – Metro Al Madina, Beirut, LB
Performing Resonance/Dissonance (solo Oud) in support of Maryam Saleh singing Sheikh Imam.
25th Dec 2012 – Radio Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Performing Resonance/Dissonance (solo)
26th Dec 2012 – Metro Al Madina, Beirut, LB
Playing Drums with Tamer Abu Ghazaleh.
29th Dec 2012 – Metro Al Madina, Beirut, LB
Alif Ensemble, Arab world Premier concert
Alif Ensemble – Intadhirha (Wait for Her) Live
Live at BT River of Music Festival, Battersea Park, London, 22 July 2012
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh & Khyam Allami @ The Vortex
On Monday 19 November, Nawa Recordings and Eka3 will host a very special concert by Tamer Abu Ghazaleh and myself at The Vortex Jazz Club in London. This will be the first time I play Oud and Drums in the same evening. Very exciting!
More information available on the Facebook event here and advance tickets available here.
Showcase at WOMEX 2012 Thessaloniki
Khyam Allami will be showcasing at WOMEX 2012 in Thessaloniki on Friday 19 October at 1pm on the Daycase stage. His showcase is supported by the PRS for Music Foundation (PRSF), UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Arts Council England.
He will be contactable via the British Music at WOMEX stand (Hall 6 – Stands 121 & 128).
Interview on Zahrat al-Khaleej (Abu Dhabi TV)
Khyam’s performance and interview begins around 19min 30sec.
If you cannot see the video above please click here.
National Youth Orchestra of Iraq – UK Debut
Since mid-August I have been up in Edinburgh with the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, led by Musical Director Paul MacAlindin, who are here in the UK for the first time for their annual summer school and three concerts.
Their concerts will include Fauré’s Elegie with the acclaimed cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, a new contemporary composition for Oud and orchestra by Gordon McPherson commissioned and composed especially for myself and the NYOI, alongside Kurdish and Arab Iraqi music and Schubert’s “Tragic” Symphony. We will also be performing a special arrangement of “An Alif/An Apex” for a quintet of Oud, Violin, Cello, Oboe and Daf.
Gordon McPherson, Khyam Allami and Paul MacAlindin
Khyam Allami rehearsing with the NYOI
There has been a lot of press about the NYOI’s visit including coverage on Channel 4 news, the Independent and BBC Breakfast. To keep up with the NYOI’s activities you can follow them on Twitter or Facebook.
The upcoming concert dates are below. Please show the orchestra your support and join us if you can!
- Glasgow – 25th Aug, 7.30pm: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Buy tickets
- Edinburgh – 26th Aug, 7.30pm: Greyfriars Kirk (part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe). Buy tickets
- London – 28th Aug, 7.30pm: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. Buy tickets
