Biography
D I S S I D E N T E N
‘The World’ was Dissidenten’s main musical subject long before such ideas floated into fashion. Over a thirty-year span their projects have ranked not only among the most innovative multicultural collaborations but they also figure among the most telling and groundbreaking contributions to the development and broadening of today’s popular music. Since the term ‘World Music’ entered the music lexicon in the early 1980s their name has been synonymous with, and at the forefront of ‘World Music’. After all, it was the Rolling Stone that dubbed Dissidenten “Godfathers of World-Beat” long before the term became popular.
More Info: The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Tanger-Sessions 2008 - a short introduction:
Hard-rocking electric guitars and driving rhythms create a mysterious and metallic atmosphere evoking the hysterical voices of war orrespondents of CNN and Al Jazeera. The unison choral singing of the Malhoun magnifies the emotions, as they go into a trance that unites the whole assembly. The opener ‘Akaaboune’s Homage'is a majestic tribute to the legendary patron of art of the Moroccan music scene. Introduced to the band by writer/composer Paul Bowles, Akaaboune was also co-producer of Sahara Elektrik. Hooks abound, prominent guitars grab your ears and choirs soothe them in ‘Morock’n’Roll’. After an atmospheric intro, the hard-bitten ‘Gun Factory’ reveals itself as a savage attack upon those who profit from the weapons industry. ’The World is a Mirror’ refers the established DISSIDENTEN principle, and ‘Truth is the Only Religion’ praises the benefits of a humanistic world. After an ethereal flute intro, ‘Song 4 A Rainbow’ refers hopefully to the ideal rainbow of nations, races and cultures that some feel is possible to achieve. ‘Fata Morgana’ takes centre stage in the Tanger Sessions as an electric/acoustic oasis, resplendent under the Saharan sun. Alongside the DISSIDENTEN and Jil Jilala are an illustrious collection of musicians from Marrakech and Munich, Casablanca and Berlin.
The Tanger Sessions contain the seeds of a new reality, one which makes obvious the ever-developing cross-fertilization between western and Arabic culture. Rather than vague ‘one world’ philosophies, it is the wild spirit of the hard-rocking Seventies which connects the musicians involved. The CD cover shows an
amalgamation of the German and Moroccan flags – the central pentagram represents a ban on evil. Under this new flag, the DISSIDENTEN once again become activists campaigning for a ‘world’ music free from the burden of globalisation. The Tanger Sessions reflect in music both the light and dark sides of the clash of cultures.
The history:
1981/83: Dissidenten and their own label Exil Musik are founded in Berlin by Uve Muellrich, Marlon Klein and Friedo Josch. Following a one-year tour of Asia, the group decides to stay in India to produce their first album GERMANISTAN with the help of the Karnataka College Of Percussion, their charismatic female singer R.A. Ramamani and percussionist Ramesh Shotham. The live line up is joined by India’s outstanding pianist Louis Banks and American sax legend Charlie Mariano. Concerts between Calcutta and Madrid, Casablanca and Stockholm are documented on the live album GERMANISTAN TOUR 83.
1984/85: Concerts worldwide. Having toured North Africa, Dissidenten set up camp in Tangier, Morocco. Composer and author Paul Bowles and Tangier’s musical godfather Abdesalam Akaaboune introduce them to Moroccan musicians Jil Jilala, Nas El Ghiwane, Lem Chaheb and the likes. Dissidenten's third album SAHARA ELEKTRIK is recorded in Tangier with Lem Chaheb and their outstanding leader Cherif Lamrani. FATA MORGANA -the album’s hit song becomes famous not only in North Africa but a top dancefloor success in Europe and South America. 250.000 people see and hear Dissidenten live during a three-week tour of Spain. British DJ John Peel features the group in his legendary BBC program. 'Dissimania' -initially started out in the Mediterranean, spreads via England to Canada and the US. Dissidenten make it to the top of independent charts worldwide. Concert for German TV-WDR at the famous Rockpalast is broadcasted live all over Europe
1986/88: Concerts worldwide. Dissidenten move to Spain. LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS is recorded in Madrid and Casablanca. The album includes TELEPHONE ARAB -Dissidenten’s hit song and videoclip. With a coverversion of TELEPHONE ARAB, Egyptian superstar Mohammed Mounir makes it number one all over the Arab world. Dissidenten tour major places in Europe and North America as well as North Afrika and Asia. One of these legendary concerts at New York’s packed Palladium is recorded for the album DISSIDENTEN LIVE IN NEW YORK. The song FATA MORGANA from the 1984 album SAHARA ELEKTRIK becomes a major hit in Brasil and South Amerika –ten years later it will have sold more than 1,5 million copies in Brasil alone. Dissidenten play the title song for the famous telenovela SASSA RICANDO. Till today Dissidenten enjoy a strong following in Brasil.
1989/91: Morocco: Recordings with the Royal Orchestra of Rabat for the album OUT OF THIS WORLD -featuring singer Mahmoud Saadi and the incredible talents of Cherif Lamrani on mandolincello. 1989 OUT OF THIS WORLD is released worldwide. The video for the album’s title song was filmed and produced by Dissidenten in East Berlin -just before and during the Berlin Wall came down. Concerts in North America. Recording for Real American Music in Ottawa. The album involves native American Indian musicians made friends and worked with while touring Canada.
1992/95: Concerts worldwide. Recordings in Mumbay and Bangalore for the album THE JUNGLE BOOK -an artistic reunion with many musicians and friends from the group’s past years working and touring all over India. Most of them have become internationally acclaimed by now. Ramesh Shotham, R.A. Ramamani, Karnataka College of Percussion, Louis Banks or Trilok Gurtu to name a few. European radio DJs vote Dissidenten second place amongst 800 albums in their annual European World Music Charts. DJ Sven Väth remixes the single-release JUNGLE BOOK PART II from the THE JUNGLE BOOK and thus introduces the "Love- and Trance-Generation" to Dissidenten.
1996/99: INSTINCTIVE TRAVELER is recorded in Hawaii, India, Canada, Morocco, Spain and Germany featuring the charismatic voice of Bajka and Germany's Manfred Schoof on trumpet. This highly esteemed album incorporates Dissidenten’s decades of experiences in almost every corner of the sounding globe. INSTINCTIVE TRAVELER is a time-travel between the various planets of Dissidenten’s unique musical universe. Hawaiian singers meet Basque accordionists, native American vocals, Arabic court musicians and Celtic drone as well as South Indian chanting and European Zeitgeist. Dissidenten live -featuring Izaline Calister, Noujoum Ouazza, Manickam Yogeswaran and Manu Gallo- play Europe's biggest festivals including two times in a row Glastonbury, Montreux Jazzfestival and Roskylde. Highlights from each of these shows are released on the album LIVE IN EUROPE.
2000: Dissidenten are exploring yet another musical world. Teaming up with composer Gordon Sherwood and video artist Stefanie Seidl they create the “Documentary Opera” THE MEMORY OF THE WATERS, first performed at “Internationales Donaufestival Ulm” for German National Radio SWR by the Bratislava Sinfonic Orchestra & Choir. Director: Peter Feranec, featuring Charlie Mariano, Nojoum Ouazza, Manickam Yogeswaran, Barabara Buchholz and Tomás San Miguel - more than 100 musicians on stage. Between 2000 and 2005 THE MEMORY OF THE WATERS is performed by various orchestras all over Europe. LA MEMORIA DE LAS AGUAS, the Spanish version is performed with conductor Tomás Garrido and the Orchestra & Choir Pamplona for the Festivales de Navarra -broadcasted by Spanish National Radio live nationwide. World Exhibition Expo 2000 Hannover: In collaboration with German sculptor Albert Hien Dissidenten compose and perform a piece for 96 Bavarian brass bands and a sound installation incorporating the sound of bells from 96 different Bavarian cathedrals and churches.
2001/05: 20 years around the world: Dissidenten once again call upon friends and collaborators to celebrate the anniversary. The album 2001: A WORLD BEAT ODYSSEY, gathers some of Europe’s most famed DJs: Badmarsh, Tricatel, Ravi Bal, Shantel, Deep-Dive-Corp, Lelonek, Kulisch & Vana and Slop Shop remix nine tracks from almost all musical phases of Dissidenten. In 2003 the remix-collection is completed with the album DISSIDENTEN REMIX.ED 2.O: A NEW WORLD ODYSSEY. At Womex 2001 in Rotterdam Dissidenten present thier new project IN 80 NIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD -including various DJs, VJ Annah and Andreas Leifeld, which later is performed live all over Europe.
2006/07: Dissidenten are touring North Africa with Moroccan hereos Jil Jilala. Between concerts they work together in Tangier and Casablanca to complete the new DISSIDENTEN//JIL JILALA album »TANGER SESSIONS«. 2007: The band composes and arranges the musical program at the final party of Germany’s spectacular CREOLE-Award for World Music. French/German TV ARTE and German TV WDR broadcast a lengthy feature about Dissidenten’s Moroccan experiences.
2008: The album »TANGER SESSIONS« is released. Concerts in Europe and North Africa from April onwards. The first gig of the tour is broadcasted live and online by German National Radio SWR in April 2008
Instrumentation
7 musicians - standard lineup
DISSIDENTEN
MARLON KLEIN - drums/percussion
UVE MÜLLRICH - bass/guitar
plus:
MENNANA ENNAOUI - vocal/percussion
Mennana Ennaoui is one of the most impressive singers of contemporary Moroccan music and has been involved in various past Dissidenten projects. Her musical work ranges from Moroccan folk songs to jazz, and her latest effort was with jazz legend
Toots Thielemans on harmonica.
ELKE ROGGE - hurdy-gurdy
Elke Rogge is an exceptional hurdy-gurdy player who masters the ancient instrument in unusually modern way. She gained nationwide attention in Germany as the front woman for the ‘free folk’ group Hölderlin Express and has won numerous prizes including the German World Music Award and the German Folk Music Award.
NOUJOUM OUAZZA - vocal/mandolincello
Noujoum Ouazza is an ex-member of Morocco’s famous group Lem Chaheb. With the late Cherif Lamrani, he is one of the most respected mandolincello players of his country and has worked with Dissidenten since the late 1980s.
ROMAN BUNKA - guitar/oud
In Germany, everybody knows the fabled Roman Bunka. He is not only an exceptional guitar player but is also probably the best European player of the Arabic oud. He performs regularly with Egypt’s superstar Mohamed Mounir. Starting out with Germany’s legendary group Embryo, he has been involved in various Dissidenten projects in the past.
SUSANNE PAUL - 5-String Violoncello
Since years she is known as the “Wunderkind” of modern cello. Her musical range spreads from punk to classic and Jazz. She got to national fame with her project “Stringthing”- often compared to the Kronos Quartett. Susanne Paul is a performing
musician as well as a teacher.
+ guests:
JIL JILALA
MOULAY TAHAR EL ASBIHANI - vocal/percussion
ABDELKRIM EL KASBAJI - vocal/percussion
Discography
CDs
2008: TANGER SESSIONS - Fuego/Exil 2008
2005: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 NIGHTS - Exil/Fuego
2003: A NEW WORLD ODYSSEY - Exil 2003
2001: A WORLDBEAT ODYSSEY - Exil 2001
LIVE IN EUROPE Exil 1998 Germany/World
INSTINCTIVE TRAVELER Exil 1997 Germany/World
MIXED UP JUNGLE Exil 1996 Germany/World
LOVE SUPREME REMIX Exil 1994 Germany/World
THE JUNGLE BOOK Exil 1993 Germany/World
GERMANISTAN Exil 1992 Germany/World
LIVE IN NEW YORK Exil 1991 Germany
OUT OF THIS WORLD Sire / Warner Bros. 1990 World
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Exil 1990 Germany/world
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Exil 1990 Germany/World
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Globestyle 1989 UK
SPECIAL COMPILATION Exil 1986 Germany
MAXIS
FATA MORGANA Ginger 1985 Spain
CASABLANCA Exil 1985 Germany
FATA MORGANA Golden Denia 1986 France
INSHALLAH Materiali Sonori 1986 Italy
INSHALLAH Ginger 1986 Spain
FATA MORGANA Materiali Sonori 1986 Spain
FATA MORGANA Sigem 1987 Brazil
FATA MORGANA L'escargot 1988 France
JUNGLE BOOK REMIX E-Que, WEA 1994 World
MIXED UP JUNGLE Exil 1997 Germany/World
LPS
LIVE IN NEW YORK Exil 1991 Germany
OUT OF THIS WORLD Sire / Warner Bros. 1990 World
POLO MIX Ginger 1988 Spain
SASSARICANDO Globo 1988 Brazil
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Amok 1988 Canada
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Melodie 1987 France
DISSIDENTEN & LEM CHAHEB 1987 Mexico
HITS COLLECTION Globo 1987 Brazil
ARAB SHADOWS Materiali Sonori 1987 Italy
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Dro 1986 Spain
ARAB SHADOWS PICTURE Materiali Sonori 1987 Italy
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Materiali Sonori 1987 Italy
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Amok 1986 Canada
ARAB SHADOWS Nuevos Medios 1986 Spain
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Materiali Sonori 1986 Italy
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Exil 1985 Germany
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Exil 1984 Germany
GERMANISTAN Exil 1982 Germany
SINGLES
THREE FISH IN THE DESERT Sire / Warner Bros. 1990 World
OUT OF THIS WORLD Sire / Warner Bros. 1990 World
FATA MORGANA L'escargot 1988 France
TELEPHONE ARAB Exil 1987 Germany
MATA HARI Exil 1987 Germany
MCS
THE JUNGLE BOOK Exil 1993 Germany
OUT OF THIS WORLD Sire / Warner Bros. 1990 World
LIFE AT THE PYRAMIDS Exil 1986 Germany
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Hilali 1985 North Africa
SAHARA ELEKTRIK Exil 1984 Germany
GERMANISTAN Exil 1982 Germany
EXIL 002 Exil 1981 Germany
EXIL 001 Exil 1981 Germany
FILMMUSIC
AIR INDIA - Air India 1995
DISSIDENTEN - LIVE IN INDIA Vox TV 1993
PANKUJ PARAHAR - Louis Banks Bombay 1992
GREAT JOURNEYS - BBC 1991
SASSARICANDO - Globo TV 1990 Brazil
WILD ORCHID - Warner Brother 1989
VIDEOCLIPS
JUNGLE BOOK Remix Exil 4:00 1995
20 MINUTES Exil 20:00 1990
LIVE AT THE POW WOW Exil 5:00 1991
OUT OF THIS WORLD Sire/ Warner Bros. 4:15 1989
LIVE IN NEW YORK Exil 45:00 1988
TELEPHONE ARAB - KAIRO Exil 3:50 1985
Links
| http://www.dissidenten.com |
| Dissidenten - MySpace |
| Dissidenten - iTunes |
| Dissidenten - Homepage |