Rizan Said - King of Keyboard (2015)

It can be said, that without Rizan Said, a good number of Syrian singers from the 1990s onward might never have been heard - most notably Omar Souleyman, a collaborator with Rizan for two decades. Where synthesizers can bring a certain artifice and death to the sound of music, Rizan's torrential speed and flair on the keys bring new life to Syrian and Kurdish sounds - lightning fast as required - respectfully forcing the component sounds of folkloric dabke into the next level. Once exposed to the west via Omar Souleyman, these swirling synths atop accelerated electronic beats easily seduced the "west" - and the world soon began celebrating the dabke sounds of Syria. What has often been overlooked is the very specific context and vibe of northeastern Syria, where this music originates. These sounds were indeed designed for dance, but when you're at a Syrian wedding party, you begin to understand that this has been going on for centuries, before electro, disco, hipsters, and orientalists. This is the updated sound of the ages, where hand drums and reed flutes are now emulated and pounded out on Korg keyboards. Run it through your favorite amplifier, and keep it in the red for authenticity. - Mark Gergis - April, 2015