{"title":"Ferkat Al Ard","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFerkat Al Ard was a Lebanese band that emerged in the mid 1970s. The band consisted of Issam Hajali on vocals and guitar, Elie Saba on bouzouki and oud, and Toufic Farroukh on saxophone and flute. Their songs on Oghniya were primarily arranged by Ziad Rahbani.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith their unique blend of instruments and talented members, Ferkat Al Ard created a distinct sound that captivated audiences. Their music showcased the rich cultural heritage of Lebanon while incorporating modern elements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it was through Hajali's soulful vocals or Saba's mastery of traditional stringed instruments, Ferkat Al Ard delivered powerful performances that resonated with listeners. The addition of Farroukh's saxophone and flute added depth to their compositions.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"oghneya","title":"Oghneya","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn absolutely legendary album from Lebanon by \u003cstrong\u003eIssam Hajali\u003c\/strong\u003e's group \u003cem\u003eFerkat Al Ard\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eOghneya\u003c\/em\u003e stands out as one of the great musical gems of the Arab world. A groundbreaking release from 1978 that represents the meeting point of Arab, jazz, folk, and Brazilian styles with the talent of \u003cstrong\u003eZiad Rahbani\u003c\/strong\u003e, who did the album's arrangements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFilled with a variety of sounds and genres, from baroque pop to psych-folk to flashes of bossa nova, tropicalia, and MPB, \u003cem\u003eOghneya\u003c\/em\u003e is like if \u003cstrong\u003eArthur Verocai\u003c\/strong\u003e took a trip to Beirut in the 70's to record an album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2015, we heard \u003cem\u003eFerkat Al Ard\u003c\/em\u003e's music for the first time, a Lebanese trio compromised of \u003cstrong\u003eIssam Hajali\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eToufic Farroukh\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eElia Saba\u003c\/strong\u003e. It was a stunningly unique release that blends traditional Arabic elements, jazz, and Brazilian rhythms hand in hand with poetic-yet-politically engaged lyrics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe band was active in the left-wing movement of Lebanon at the time and they communicated their political ideas candidly through their songwriting. In our mind, the idea was to see whether \u003cstrong\u003eIssam\u003c\/strong\u003e was interested in re-releasing \u003cem\u003eOghneya\u003c\/em\u003e. He was not opposed to it, but also made it clear that it was not his priority for a first project. He suggested we start with his first album, before \u003cem\u003eFerkat Al Ard\u003c\/em\u003e was formed, \u003cem\u003eMouasalat Ila Jacad El Ard\u003c\/em\u003e, which was recorded in 1977 in Paris together with his friend \u003cstrong\u003eRoger Fakhr\u003c\/strong\u003e (whose work we have been privileged to re-release in the meantime as well.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMouasalat Ila Jacad El Ard\u003c\/em\u003e is melancholic, stripped-down, guitar-based folk intertwined with jazz-fused breaks, and the unique sound of the santour glistens through. While the music is very accessible, some song structures are rather atypical, neglecting common patterns of verse, hook, verse, hook. The lyrics mostly trace back to the poetic work of Palestinian author \u003cstrong\u003eSamih El Kasem\u003c\/strong\u003e, with one song also written by \u003cstrong\u003eIssam\u003c\/strong\u003e, who composed the music for the whole album.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Habibi Funk","offers":[{"title":"LP  Black","offer_id":50458823426379,"sku":"1157628","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50458824343883,"sku":"1157629","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/f2f448da-0fee-413f-9dde-42a46ce18c2c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727214337"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_c128c4cd_thumbnail_4096_59d6cec9-7329-43cd-a751-cb8052b76845.jpg?v=1727214308","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/ferkat-al-ard.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}