Bubblespore

2009 release. Part of Staalplaat's ongoing Muslimgauze archive series, Sycophant of Purdah was submitted in 1994 then "replaced" by another master Bryn Jones felt more fit for release. Sycophant then languished in the vaults until it's first CD release in 2009, a decade after Jones's passing in 1999. Sycophant opens with a radio broadcast on the ongoing Palestinian crisis set to breakbeats and marmalade-thick bass lines; the forward to another sonic treatise on struggles of the Muslim world. Tracks that follow are more consistent with industrial stylings of the Muslimgauze oeuvre including Zealot (1994), Blue Mosque (1994), Silknoose (1995), and Izlamaphobia (1995). Industrial, in the context of Muslimgauze, is often characterized by tightly woven percussion loops with scant variance while melodies hover. Additionally, tracks like "Radif Avaz and Dastgah" and "Mossad Evil" are another facet of industrial, in the classic sense of the word, meaning "mechanical", "machine-like," with little in the way of melodic overtones. The commonality is rigorous, dogmatic structure that is nonetheless hypnotic and engaging. Because the above albums vary, despite being of the same sub-genre, Sycophant could be considered a "missing link" that ties them together - with ethno-breaks added for variance. None of the track listings, handwritten by Jones, are repeated on any other release, hence Sycophant of Purdah is a must-have for fans and collectors. Limited edition of 500.