Soapkills - Bater (2000)

Soapkills was one of the first indie bands to emerge in the Middle East, founded in the late 1990s in Beirut by Yasmine Hamdan and Zeid Hamdan (unrelated). The band blended classical and folk Arabic music with electronic, dub, and trip-hop influences, drawing inspiration from Massive Attack and Portishead. Their early sound was built around a Roland MC-303 Groovebox, later incorporating live instruments such as trumpet, flute, saxophone, bass, and drums. Soapkills released three albums: *Bater* (2001), *Cheftak* (2002), and *Enta Fen* (2005). Their music became a symbol of the young arts scene in postwar Lebanon and was featured in films, theater, and modern art installations, including Elia Suleiman’s cult movie *Divine Intervention* (2002). In 2007, Time Magazine mentioned the band as part of Beirut’s “small but artistically significant” rock scene.

Tracklist:
1-1 Soapkills - Leh Zaalen
1-2 Soapkills - Cheat On Me
1-3 Soapkills - Zizi
1-4 Soapkills - Coit Me
1-5 Soapkills - Coit Me (Zeid Mix)
1-6 Soapkills - Yahoo!
1-7 Soapkills - Follow
1-8 Soapkills - Flower Juice
1-9 Soapkills - While U Are Rehearsing
1-10 Soapkills - Frères