Suns of Arqa
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
, who later became known for On-U Sound Records
. In 1982, they were invited to play at the first WOMAD Festival by Peter Gabriel
. Since then, they have gone on to work with a variety of musicians and performers, such as John Cooper Clarke
, Prince Far-I, Professor Stanley Unwin
, flautist Tim Wheater, Adrian Sherwood
, and a great many others. They performed with Prince Far-I at his last concert before his death in 1982.
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.
, Phoenix Festival
and the first WOMAD Festival. 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. They have released three live albums to date, 'Live with Prince Far I', 'Animan', and 'Big and Live'.
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 All Music Guide
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.”
Discography Data sources
Early days
Suns of Arqa started out in the World Music scene in 1979. Their first albums were produced by Adrian SherwoodAdrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
, who later became known for On-U Sound Records
On-U Sound Records
On-U Sound Records is an English record label best known for releasing its own unique flavour of dub music since the 1980s. The label is owned by producer Adrian Sherwood and home to acts such as Tackhead, Dub Syndicate, African Head Charge, The London Underground, Little Annie, Creation Rebel,...
. In 1982, they were invited to play at the first WOMAD Festival by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. Since then, they have gone on to work with a variety of musicians and performers, such as John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
, Prince Far-I, Professor Stanley Unwin
Stanley Unwin (comedian)
Stanley Unwin , sometimes billed as Professor Stanley Unwin, was a British comedian and comic writer, and the inventor of his own language, "Unwinese", referred to in the film Carry On Regardless as "gobbledegook".Unwinese was a mangled form of English in which many of the...
, flautist Tim Wheater, Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
, and a great many others. They performed with Prince Far-I at his last concert before his death in 1982.
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. One of these, 'Land of a Thousand Churches', was a compilation featuring collaborations with artists such as James Young, Helen WatsonHelen Watson (singer-songwriter)
Helen Watson is an English singer-songwriter. Her music encompasses blues, soul, jazz, pop and folk.-Biography:Watson began performing on the folk-club circuit during the late 1960s whilst working as a teacher in Manchester...
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
808 State
808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
, A Guy Called Gerald
A Guy Called Gerald
A Guy Called Gerald is the stage name for the musician, record producer and DJ Gerald Simpson ....
, John Leckie
John Leckie
John Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
, Zion Train
Zion Train
Zion Train are a British dub reggae ensemble . Initially formed in Oxford as a sound system in 1988 by Neil Perch and Ben Hamilton, Colin Cod and Dave Tench joined in 1990 upon relocation to London. The line-up was added to with vocalist Molara in 1992...
, Muslimgauze
Muslimgauze
Muslimgauze was a music project of Bryn Jones , a prolific British ethnic electronica and experimental musician, influenced by conflicts in the Muslim world with an emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...
, Youth
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
and Astralasia. The results were a fusion of dub, drum and bass, and the existing styles which Suns of Arqa were associated with.
Live
Throughout their career Suns of Arqa have played at various major music festivals, including the Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, Phoenix Festival
Phoenix Festival
The Phoenix Festival was set up by Vince Power of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals...
and the first WOMAD Festival. 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. They have released three live albums to date, 'Live with Prince Far I', 'Animan', and 'Big and Live'.
Media
NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
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 All Music Guide
All Music Guide
Allmusic is a service of music guide, owned by All Media Guide. Allmusic was founded in 1991 by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine as a guide for consumers. Its first reference book was published the following year...
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.”
Albums
| Title | |Released | |Catalogue No | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenge of the Mozabites | LP | 1979 | Rocksteady Records | MICKL01 | 11-track album |
| Wadada Magic | LP | 1983 | Antler/Subway | ANTLER 024 | 9-track album |
| India? | LP | 1984 | Rocksteady Records | 1 GIL | 5-track album, 'Dancer Side' ('Give Love', 'S.7', 'Kalashree') and 'Yantra Side' ('Asirus', 'Vairabi') |
| Musical Revue | MC | 1984 | ROIR Europe ROIR ROIR , or Reach Out International Records, is a New York City-based record label founded in 1979 by Neil Cooper.ROIR was founded the same year that the Sony Walkman launched, and initially, the label exclusively distributed its releases in cassette format... |
RE161 | Live recording with Prince Far-I at "The Band On The Wall" Manchester on 7 Dec 1982 |
| Ark Of The Arqans, Heaven And Hell And Other Strange Faces Vol. 5 | LP | 1985 | Scarface | MFACE11 | 6-track album |
| White Band Speak With Forked Tongue | LP/MC | 1986 | Bop Cassettes Bop Cassettes Bop Cassettes is a defunct, Manchester-based, independent record label. It released records for many Manchester bands in the late 1980s, including the Man From Delmonte, Toss the Feathers, Half Man Half Biscuit, Space Heads, Mr Spin.... |
BIP 403 | 13-tracks including 11 cover versions and both mixes of 'Heavenly Bodies' from 'Ark of the Arqans' |
| Seven | LP | 1987 | Arka Sound | ARKA 7 | 11-track album |
| Jaggernaut | LP | 1989 | Antler/Subway | ANT 104 | 4-track album |
| Alap-Joe-Jhala | LP/CD/MC | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2102 CD | 13-track album |
| Jaggernaut (Whirling Dub) | CD | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2103 CD | Remixed from 'Jaggernaut' LP |
| Kokoromochi | LP/CD/MC | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2104 CD | 6-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. |
| Cradle | CD/MC | 1992 | Earthsounds | CDEASM 004 | 4-track album |
| Total Eclipse of the Suns | CD | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2108 CD | Remix album |
| Shabda | CD | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2109 CD | 14-track album |
| Animan | CD | 1996 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2110 CD | 11-track live album |
| Remixes Vol 2 & 3 | 2CD | 1998 | Echo Beach | LC 2188 | Remix album |
| SOA meet Gâyan Uttejak Orchestra | CD | 1999 | Arqa Sound | ARKA CD 22113 | 8-track album |
| Cosmic Jugalbandi | CD | 1999 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22115 | 12-track album |
| Technomor | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22116-2 | Remix album |
| Muslim Gauze | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22120 | Remix album by Bryn Jones Muslimgauze Muslimgauze was a music project of Bryn Jones , a prolific British ethnic electronica and experimental musician, influenced by conflicts in the Muslim world with an emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict... |
| Universe City | CD | 2001 | EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
7243-5-34968-2-1 | 8-track album |
| Cradle | CD | 2002 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33122 | Remixed from earlier 'Cradle' album |
| Magiczna Miłość | CD | 2003 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33124 | 11-track album, including 3 tracks from 'Wadada Magic' ('Brujo Magic', 'Steppin to the Music', 'The Step') |
| Hallucinasia | CD | Nov 2005 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33125 | 12-track album |
| Big and Live | CD | Feb 2006 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33129 | 12-track live album, including 3 remixes based on tracks from 'Musical Revue' |
| Scared Sacred | CD | 2009 | Dragonfly Records | BFLCD90 | 7-track album |
| Know Thyself | CD | 2010 | Interchill Records Interchill Records Interchill Records is an independent downtempo/electronica record label based between Salt Spring Island and Nelson on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.... |
ICHILL CD 040 | 4-track album |
| Stranger Music | CD/DVD | Apr 2011 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33137 | 15-track album packaged with 12-track Live DVD |
Re-issues
| Title | |Released | |Catalogue No | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live with Prince Far I | CD | 1999 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2100 CD | Re-issue of 1984 album, plus 4 radio sessions, plus 'Thunder Bolt, Dark Void' ('Ark of the Arqans'), 'Hey Jagunath' ('Govinda Go') |
| Govinda's House | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22117 | Re-issue of Disc 2 from 'Remixes 2 & 3' with an extra mix by The Orb The Orb Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1... |
| Aberglaube | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22118 | Re-issue of Disc 1 from 'Remixes 2 & 3' |
| Revenge of the Mozabites | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33116 | Re-issue of 1979 LP, with bonus track 'Acid Tabla Remix' from 'GD Magick' |
| Seven | CD | 2002 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33125 | Re-issue featuring 8 tracks from 1987 LP, plus new tracks 'Ishwara' & 'Sunarqastra', plus 'He Did Not Die' (edited from 'Libera Me'), 'Give Love' ('India?'), 'Ark of the Arqans' ('Ark of the Arqans'), 'Beyond the Beyond' (Live) |
| Alap-Joe-Jhala | MP3 | 27 Jul 2005 | Arka Sound | B001GQAGME | Re-issue of 1992 CD, without the four opening remixes, instead starting with additional track 'Gavati' |
| Re-mixs Muslimgauze | CD | 2007 | Soleilmoon | SOL 158 CD | Re-issue of most of 'Muslim Gauze' with more complete versions of mixes, plus new mixes of 'Whirling Dub', 'Sensi Palestine', 'Horses of the Apothecary' |
Singles
| Title | Format | |Record Label | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul To Save | 7" | 1980 | Rocksteady Records | MICK 010 | New track 'Soul to Save', and an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' |
| Mysteries of the East | 12" | 1982 | Virgin Records | 600 642 | J Halib's 'Mysteries of the East', backed by an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' |
| GD Magick | 12" | Oct 1983 | Antler Records | ANTLER 018 | New track 'GD Magick', plus 'Acid Tabla' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', and 'Throw Away Your Guns/Whatyougonnadoonjudgementday' from 'Musical Revue' |
| Pressure Drop | 7"/12" | 1984 | Vogue Belgique | VB788 | New track 'Pressure Drop', plus 'World Peace AD' and 'Scully's Reel' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' |
| In Paradisum | 12" | 1987 | Rocksteady Records | 1 G1T | Artist billed as simply 'Arka', features 'In Paradisum' 7" Single Mix, Disco Dub Mix, and 'Erasmus Meets the Earthling' |
| Govinda's House | 12" | 1988 | Antler Records | ANT 094 | Features 'Govinda's House' and 'In The City of Nine Gates' |
| Govinda Go | 12" | 1990 | Arka Sound | ARKA SOUND 2112 | Features 'Govinda Go (808 Massey Mix)' and 'Hey Jagunath' |
| Sul-E-Stomp | CD/12" | 1992 | Magick Eye | EYE CD 16 | Remixes of 'Sully's Reel' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' by Astralasia, various 12" versions released |
| Govinda's Dream | CD | 22 Aug 1994 | Arka Sound | ARKA 601 CD | Remixes of earlier 'Govinda's House' single by Astralasia, Phil Kirby, A Guy Called Gerald A Guy Called Gerald A Guy Called Gerald is the stage name for the musician, record producer and DJ Gerald Simpson .... |
| Erasmus Meets The Earthling | CD | 1994 | Arka Sound | ARKA 602 CD | Remixes of 'Erasmus', 'Jaggernaut', and 'What Does It Profit' by Phil Kirby, Youth Martin Glover Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:... and Greg Hunter Greg Hunter Greg Hunter is a British composer and sound engineer. He attended Goldsmiths, University of London. He is known for his work with The Orb and with producer Youth in their collaboration to form Dub Trees, and as a composer of electronic / world music... |
| DJ Files | 12" | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 602 | Remixes of 'Jaggernaut', and 'What Does It Profit' by Phil Kirby, Youth Martin Glover Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:... and Greg Hunter Greg Hunter Greg Hunter is a British composer and sound engineer. He attended Goldsmiths, University of London. He is known for his work with The Orb and with producer Youth in their collaboration to form Dub Trees, and as a composer of electronic / world music... |
| Govinda's Dream (Remixes) | 12" | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 601R | Two remixes from United Spirits Of Rhythm and A Guy Called Gerald A Guy Called Gerald A Guy Called Gerald is the stage name for the musician, record producer and DJ Gerald Simpson .... |
| Tomorrow Never Knows (Promo) | 12" | 2001 | EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
12ARQWL 001 | Two remixes of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by Chicken Lips Chicken Lips (band) Chicken Lips are a dance music band and production team from Stafford, England, that includes Andy Meecham and Dean Meredith, both formerly of Bizarre Inc, a band they created in the early 1990s.-Career:... , plus The Orb The Orb Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1... remix of 'Children of Jumma' |
Compilations
| Title | |Released | |Catalogue No | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vol 2+3 Eclecticism | MC | 1983 | One G Productions | 1G 1 | Includes tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic' and 'GD Magick' |
| Arqaology: Wadada 1979 to 1986 | LP | 1986 | One G Productions | 1G 2L | New tracks 'Nothing to Sing (Part II)' and 'Hard Life', plus tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic', 'GD Magick' and 'Ark of the Arqans' |
| Land of a Thousand Churches | CD/MC | 1991 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2101 CD | New 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' |
| Arqaology | LP/CD/MC | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2105 CD | New remixes of 'Brujo Man' and 'City of Nine Gates', plus tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic', 'GD Magick' |
| Solar Activity 1979-2001 | 2CD | 2001 | EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
7243-5-31592-2-1 | Compilation |
| A Brief History of SOA | CD | 25 Nov 2002 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2111 CD | Compilation |
| Tributey | CD | 2003 | Arka Sound | ARKA 33123 CD | Compilation featuring interviews with Professor Stanley Unwin Stanley Unwin (comedian) Stanley Unwin , sometimes billed as Professor Stanley Unwin, was a British comedian and comic writer, and the inventor of his own language, "Unwinese", referred to in the film Carry On Regardless as "gobbledegook".Unwinese was a mangled form of English in which many of the... |
| Through The Gate We Go | 2CD | 2008 | Arka Sound | ARKACD 33133 | 27-track DJ Mix by Tom Fu |
Video
| Title | Format | |Record Label | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu Pict | DVD | 06 Nov 2006 | Arka Sound | ARKA 12306 DVD | 20-track DVD including live footage, interviews and music/video mixes |
| Stranger Music | DVD | Apr 2011 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33137 | 15-track Live DVD (with CD Album) recorded Wiltshire 2010, Big Chill The Big Chill (music festival) The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August... 2009, Glastonbury Glastonbury Festival The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The... 2008 |
Discography Data sources