Suns of Arqa

Last updated

Suns of Arqa
Arqa.jpg
Background information
Genres
Years active1979–present
Labels
MembersMichael Wadada
Website sunsofarqa.co.uk

Suns of Arqa are a world music collective founded in 1979 by Michael Wadada. Since the group's formation, over 200 people from around the world have played and recorded with them, and in many cases these were like-minded musicians Wadada met as he travelled the world. [1] [2] [3] Pioneers of World Beat, Ambient, Downtempo and Electro-Dub, Suns of Arqa draw inspiration from around the world, interpreting indigenous, tribal and classical folk traditions. They have created an impressive legacy and earned worldwide recognition. [4]

Contents

Early days

Suns of Arqa started out in the World Music scene in 1979, recording their debut album Revenge of the Mozabites which was produced by Adrian Sherwood, who later became known for On-U Sound Records. In 1982, they were invited to play at the first WOMAD Festival by Peter Gabriel. They performed with Prince Far-I at Band on the Wall, his last concert before his death in 1983. [1] Since then, they have gone on to work with a variety of musicians and performers, such as John Cooper Clarke, Professor Stanley Unwin, flautist Tim Wheater, Adrian Sherwood, singer Helen Watson and a great many others. [2] [3] [4]

The 1990s and beyond

In the early 1990s, Wadada started his own Arka Sound label, and started re-issuing the group's older vinyl albums on new compilation CDs. [1] [2] [3] One of these, Land of a Thousand Churches, was a compilation featuring collaborations with artists such as James Young, Helen Watson and Feso Trombone. His combination of Hindu and Celtic traditions at a musical level became a trademark that ultimately became identifiable as his musical style. A few years later, Suns of Arqa worked with artists such as 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, John Leckie, Zion Train, Muslimgauze, Youth and Astralasia. The results were a fusion of dub, drum and bass, and the existing styles which Suns of Arqa were associated with. [4]

Live

Throughout their career Suns of Arqa have played at various major music festivals, including the Glastonbury Festival, Phoenix Festival and the first WOMAD Festival. [5] By the mid 1990s, the Suns of Arqa live setup added Scottish bagpipes, Indian strings, reggae percussion, and a variety of other instruments and sounds. [4] They have released three live albums to date, Musical Revue (later reissued as Live with Prince Far I), Animan, and Big and Live.

Media

NME have described Suns of Arqa albums as "definitely the most unusual records of all time", and added that "Some might call it 'genius'; most will just settle for the word 'insane'. Either way, the result is fascinating", while East West Journal (USA) have said "I'm not at all certain how this band manages to so cohesively merge rhythms no other group in the world has dared to mix, I only know that their music is reverent, humorous, profound, disorientating, terrifying and fantastic all at the same time.". Rick Anderson of AllMusic wrote that "Many bands claim to deal in global fusion music, but few have as firm a claim on the genre as the Suns of Arqa ... Big & Live documents several recent live performances and shows Wadada and his cohorts in top form, delivering everything from Celtic-reggae fusion 'Om Kaaraaya' ... to Asian meditational sounds ... and sounds in between, such as 'Majhi Ra', which adds the keening tones of the shenai to the Celtic-reggae mix. There are fine vocal performances by Angel Eye, Reba Bhaduri and Cat Von Trapp ... some listeners will find this music immediately delightful, while other will probably be mostly puzzled." [4]

Suns of Arqa musicians and collaborators

Discography

Albums

TitleFormatReleasedRecord labelCatalogue NoAdditional notes
Revenge of the Mozabites LP1979Rocksteady RecordsMICKL01
Wadada Magic (Vol III)LP1983Antler SubwayANTLER 024
India? (Vol IV)LP1984Rocksteady Records1 GIL
Ark of the Arqans (Vol 5)LP1985ScarfaceMFACE11
Seven LP1987Rocksteady RecordsARKA 7
The Musical Revue MC1988 ROIR EuropeA-1611982 live concert featuring Prince Far I
White Band Speak With Forked Tongue MC1989 Bop Cassettes BIP 403
Jaggernaut LP1989Antler/SubwayANT 104
Alap-Joe-JhalaLP/CD/MC1992Arka SoundARKA 2102 CD13-track album
KokoromochiLP/CD/MCFeb 1992 [6] Arka SoundARKA 2104 CD6-track album, includes 'Kalashree' and 'Vairabi' from 'India?', and 'Sanskrit Hymn' from 'Ark of the Arqans'. LP version does not include the two 'India?' tracks.
ShabdaCD1995Arka SoundARKA 2109 CD14-track album
AnimanCD1996Arka SoundARKA 2110 CD11-track live album
SOA meet Gâyan Uttejak OrchestraCD1999Arqa SoundARKA CD 221138-track album
Cosmic JugalbandiCD1999Arka SoundARKA CD 2211512-track album
Un1verse CityCD2001Arka Sound/EMI 7243 5 34968 2 18-track album
Magiczna MiłośćCD2003Arka SoundARKA CD 3312411-track album, including 3 tracks from 'Wadada Magic' ('Brujo Magic', 'Steppin to the Music', 'The Step'), sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville
HallucinasiaCDNov 2005Arka SoundARKA CD 3312512-track album, sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville
Big and LiveCDFeb 2006Arka SoundARKA CD 3312912-track live album, including 3 remixes based on tracks from 'Musical Revue', sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville
Scared SacredCD2009Dragonfly RecordsBFLCD907-track album
Know ThyselfCD2010Interchill RecordsICHILL CD 0404-track album
Stranger MusicCD/DVDApr 2011Arka SoundARKA CD 3313715-track album packaged with 12-track Live DVD
All Is Not Lost, But Where Is It ?CDMar 2015Liquid Sound DesignLSD91CD7-track album
WadadaCD26 February 2016Tracks & TracesFootprint 20150211-track album including remixes
Spiritual Sanity in an Insane SocietyDigital11 April 2016Arka SoundARKA CD 3313918-track album including new tracks, new Brian Hyphen remix, and older rarities
23,789 Day Excursion To Planet EarthDigital18 November 2016Arka SoundARKA CD 3314115-track album including new tracks, older rarities, and remixes by Adrian Sherwood, Brian Hyphen, Astralasia and others
The Space Mountain SessionsDigital13 December 2017Arka Sound6-track album including live recordings from Space Mountain Festival, and remixes by Kuba
Pressure Drop - A Tribute to Lizard LoganDigital11 March 2018Arka SoundARKA CD 3314410-track album of old Suns of Arqa recordings covering classic reggae tracks, including mixes and edits by Adrian Sherwood, John Brierley and Brian Hyphen
Cape Town RockDigital27 April 2018Arka SoundARKA CD 3314511-track album including new single 'Cape Town Rock', live recordings from Cape Town, and remixes by Youth, Astralasia, Gaudi, Gagarin, and Brian Hyphen
AmbyssDigital6 January 2019Arka SoundARKA 331514-track album including live recordings from Ozora Festival, Hungary August 2018
Bringing Light to the New World Disorder4xCD27 March 2020Digital ReprintsDR010LE59-track box set of rarities, produced by Michael Wadada, mixed by Brian Hyphen
The Wolf of BadenochCD5 June 2020Arka SoundARKACD 3314912-track album produced by Michael Wadada, arranged and mixed by Brian Hyphen
Live At TéléramaDigital5 March 2021Arka SoundARKA331568-track live album recorded in Paris in 2006

Remix albums

TitleFormatReleasedRecord labelCatalogue NoAdditional notes
Jaggernaut (Whirling Dub)CD1992Arka SoundARKA 2103 CDRemixed from Jaggernaut LP
Cradle CD/MC1992EarthsoundsCDEASM 004Remixed from Jaggernaut LP
Total Eclipse of the SunsCD1995Arka SoundARKA 2108 CDFirst album of individual remixes
Remixes Vol 2 & 32CD1998Echo BeachLC 2188
TechnomorCD2001Arka SoundARKA CD 22116-2Subtitled 'Remixes Vol 4'
Muslim GauzeCD2001Arka SoundARKA CD 22120Remix album by 'Muslimgauze' Bryn Jones
Cradle (new remix) CD2002Arka SoundARKA CD 33122Remixed from Jaggernaut LP, sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville
All Is Not Lost, All Is DubDigital10 December 2015Liquid Sound Design(None)7-track album of remixes
Kuba MixesDigital5 February 2021Arka SoundARKA33155Remix album by Kuba

Re-issues

TitleFormatReleasedRecord labelCatalogue NoDetails
Live with Prince Far ICD1999Arka SoundARKA 2100 CDRe-issue of 1984 album, plus 4 radio sessions, plus 'Thunder Bolt, Dark Void' ('Ark of the Arqans'), 'Hey Jagunath' ('Govinda Go')
Govinda's HouseCD2001Arka SoundARKA CD 22117Re-issue of Disc 2 from 'Remixes 2 & 3' with an extra mix by The Orb
AberglaubeCD2001Arka SoundARKA CD 22118Re-issue of Disc 1 from 'Remixes 2 & 3'
Revenge of the Mozabites CD2001Arka SoundARKA CD 33116Bonus track added (see article)
Seven CD2002Arka SoundARKA CD 33125Updated track listing (see article)
Alap-Joe-JhalaMP327 July 2005 [7] Arka SoundB001GQAGMERe-issue of 1992 CD, without the four opening remixes, instead starting with additional track 'Gavati'
Re-mixs MuslimgauzeCD2007 Soleilmoon SOL 158 CDRe-issue of most of 'Muslim Gauze' with more complete versions of mixes, plus new mixes of 'Whirling Dub', 'Sensi Palestine', 'Horses of the Apothecary'
Revenge of the Mozabites CD30 October 2017Corbett vs. DempseyCvsD / CD037Re-issue of debut LP with three bonus mixes/edits by Brian Hyphen (see article)

Singles

TitleFormatReleasedRecord labelCatalogue NoDetails
Soul To Save7"1980Rocksteady RecordsMICK 010B-side is an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites'
Mysteries of the East12"1982Virgin Records600 642Jhalib's 'Mysteries of the East', backed by an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites'
GD Magick12"Oct 1983Antler RecordsANTLER 018New track 'GD Magick', plus a remix of 'Acid Tabla' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', and 'Throw Away Your Guns/Whatyougonnadoonjudgementday' from 'Musical Revue'
Pressure Drop7"/12"1984Vogue BelgiqueVB788B-sides are 'World Peace AD' and 'Scully's Reel' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites'
Champs-Élysées7"1985 CNR Music  ?Artist billed as 'SOA Band', B-side is Sprout Head Uprising Mash-Up
In Paradisum12"1987Rocksteady Records1 G1TArtist billed as simply 'Arka', features 'In Paradisum' 7" Single Mix, Disco Dub Mix, and 'Erasmus Meets the Earthling'
Govinda's House12"1988Antler RecordsANT 094B-side is 'In The City of Nine Gates' (dub mix of the A-side)
Govinda Go12"1990Arka SoundARKA SOUND 2112Features 'Govinda Go (808 Massey Mix)' and 'Hey Jagunath'
Sul-E-StompCD/12"1992 Magick Eye EYE CD 16Remixes of 'Sully's Reel' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' by Astralasia, various 12" versions released
Govinda's DreamCD22 August 1994 [8] Arka SoundARKA 601 CDRemixes of earlier 'Govinda's House' single by Astralasia, Phil Kirby, A Guy Called Gerald
Erasmus Meets The EarthlingCD1994Arka SoundARKA 602 CDRemixes of 'Erasmus', Jaggernaut, and 'What Does It Profit' by Phil Kirby, Youth and Greg Hunter
DJ Files12"1995Arka SoundARKA 602Remixes of Jaggernaut, and 'What Does It Profit' by Phil Kirby, Youth and Greg Hunter
Govinda's Dream (Remixes)12"1995Arka SoundARKA 601RTwo remixes from United Spirits of Rhythm and A Guy Called Gerald
Tomorrow Never Knows (Promo)12"2001 EMI 12ARQWL 001Two remixes of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by Chicken Lips, plus The Orb remix of 'Children of Jumma'
Brujo Magic12"2012Emotional RescueERC 002Previously unreleased versions of Brujo Magic and Ananta Snake Dance
Acid Tabla12"2016Emotional RescueERC 033Includes new 12" version of Acid Tabla, and new remix of Asian Rebel by Brian Hyphen

Compilations

TitleFormatReleasedRecord labelCatalogue NoDetails
Vol 2+3 EclecticismMC1983One G Productions1G 1Tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic' and 'GD Magick'
Arqaology: Wadada 1979 to 1986LP1986One G Productions1G 2LTracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic', 'GD Magick', 'Ark of the Arqans' and two tracks by Sprout Head Uprising ('Nothing to Sing Part II' and 'Hard Life')
Land of a Thousand ChurchesCD/MC1991Arka SoundARKA 2101 CDNew remixes of 'The Truth Lies Therein' and 'Open The Door To Your Heart', plus tracks from 'India?', 'Ark of the Arqans', 'Seven' and 'Govinda Go'
ArqaologyLP/CD/MC1992Arka SoundARKA 2105 CDNew remixes of 'Brujo Magic' and 'City of Nine Gates', plus tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic', 'GD Magick'
Solar Activity 1979–20012CD2001Arka Sound/EMI 7243 5 31592 2 1Compilation
A Brief History of SOACD25 November 2002Arka SoundARKA 2111 CDCompilation
TributeyCD2003Arka SoundARKA 33123 CDCompilation featuring interviews with Professor Stanley Unwin
Through The Gate We Go2CD2008Arka SoundARKACD 3313327-track DJ Mix by Tom Fu
ArqatronicDigital1 October 2018Arka SoundARKACD3314712-track DJ Mix by Brian Hyphen
Revelation XVIILP15 April 2022SleepersSLPRS01310-track Compilation

Videos

TitleFormatReleasedRecord labelCatalogue NoDetails
Hindu PictDVD6 November 2006Arka SoundARKA 12306 DVD20-track DVD including live footage, interviews and music/video mixes
Stranger MusicDVDApr 2011Arka SoundARKA CD 3313715-track Live DVD (with CD Album) recorded Wiltshire 2010, Big Chill 2009, Glastonbury 2008

[9] [2] [10]

Related Research Articles

Dub Syndicate is a dub band, formed by Adrian Sherwood, which became a showcase for Adrian Sherwood's collaboration with Lincoln "Style" Scott, former drummer with the Roots Radics, Suns of Arqa and Creation Rebel.

Prince Far I was a Jamaican reggae deejay and producer, and a Rastafarian. He was known for his gruff voice and critical assessment of the Jamaican government. His track "Heavy Manners" used lyrics about government measures initiated at the time against violent crime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Kaiser (musician)</span> American guitarist, film director, and scientific diver

Henry Kaiser is an American guitarist and composer, known as an idiosyncratic soloist, a sideman, an ethnomusicologist, and a film score composer. Recording and performing prolifically in many styles of music, Kaiser is a fixture on the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. He is considered a member of the "second generation" of American free improvisers. He is married to Canadian artist Brandy Gale. He is the son of Henry J. Kaiser Jr. and the grandson of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser.

Stanley John Sadie was an influential and prolific British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1980), which was published as the first edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Along with Thurston Dart, Nigel Fortune and Oliver Neighbour he was one of Britain's leading musicologists of the post-World War II generation.

Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music.

<i>Wadada Magic</i> 1983 studio album by Suns of Arqa

Wadada Magic is the second studio album by the band Suns of Arqa, recorded and released in 1983 by Antler Records. The album was produced by Suns of Arqa founder Michael Wadada.

Discography for jazz saxophonist Anthony Braxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pheeroan akLaff</span> American jazz drummer

Pheeroan akLaff is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. He began playing in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan and Ann Arbor, with R & B keyboardist Travis Biggs, funk keyboardist Nimrod “The Grinder” Lumpkin, The Ebony Set and The Last Days. He moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and formed a group with saxophonist/flautist/percussionist Dwight Andrews. He debuted with saxophonist Bill Barron in 1975, followed by a tenure in Leo Smith's ‘New Dalta Ahkri’ (1977-1979).

Audio Active were a Japanese reggae fusion band who released several albums between the early 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century.

<i>Revenge of the Mozabites</i> 1980 studio album by Suns of Arqa

Revenge of the Mozabites is the first studio album by the band Suns of Arqa, recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 by Rocksteady Records. The album was produced by Suns of Arqa founder Michael Wadada, and his friend Adrian Sherwood.

<i>India?</i> 1984 studio album by Suns of Arqa

India? is the third studio album by the band Suns of Arqa, recorded and released in 1984 by Rocksteady Records. The album was produced by Suns of Arqa founder Michael Wadada. The spine reads "Suns of Arqa Vol IV - Such big ears, but still you can't see".

<i>Ark of the Arqans</i> 1985 studio album by Suns of Arqa

Ark of the Arkans is the fourth studio album by the band Suns of Arqa, released in 1985 by Scarface Records. The album was produced by Suns of Arqa founder Michael Wadada. The full title of the album is Suns of Arqa Vol 5 : Ark of the Arqans, Heaven and Hell, and Other Strange Faces, however it has been referred to simply as Ark of the Arqans where its tracks have appeared on re-issue CDs in later years.

<i>Seven</i> (Suns of Arqa album) 1987 studio album by Suns of Arqa

Seven is the fifth studio album by the band Suns of Arqa, released in 1987 by Rocksteady Records. The album was produced by Suns of Arqa founder Michael Wadada.

<i>White Band Speak with Forked Tongue</i> 1989 studio album by Suns of Arqa

White Band Speak with Forked Tongue is the sixth studio album by the band Suns of Arqa, recorded with Sprout Head Uprising and released in 1989 by BOP Cassettes. The album was produced by Suns of Arqa founder Michael Wadada. It is a compilation of previous singles, album tracks, new material, cover versions and collaborations. It was released only on cassette in 1989, and many of the tracks were re-issued on the 2018 album Pressure Drop, a tribute to the great Lizard Logan. The style of the album is a radical departure from previous albums, particularly with the more pop-oriented vocals, and the use of Hammond organ, saxophones and trombones.

Beris Simpson, better known as Prince Hammer, is a Jamaican reggae deejay, singer, and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K1 De Ultimate</span> Nigerian musician

K1 De Ultimate, is a Nigerian Fuji musician. He popularized a brand of the fuji genre based on the work of the fuji creator Ayinde Barrister known as Talazo fuji that appeals to all age groups, irrespective of tribe and background.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Suns Of Arqa Biography Archived 14 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Suns of Arqa on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Suns Of Arqa music, videos, stats, and photos". Last.fm. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "SUNS OF ARQA". Archive.today. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Suns Of Arqa lineup, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Suns Of Arqa - Kokoromochi". Discogs.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "Alap Joe Jhalla: Suns Of Arqa: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "NME - 13th August 1994 - Mancunian Rhapsody". 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 3 October 2006. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "Suns Of Arqa". Discogs.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.