Chasing the Shadow of Bryn Jones

I wanted to create a blog documenting the many images associated with Bryn Jones' project Muslimgauze. My hope in doing so is to introduce people not just to his music, but also to the causes around which much of his music revolved. His primary goal was to create protest music to raise awareness of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and to advocate for an end to the injustice and atrocities the Palestinian people have suffered since 1948 from this conflict. In addition to this cause, Jones also released numerous albums detailing other conflicts and historical events in the Middle and Far East, as well as aspects of Islamic history, culture, and politics. I will do my best to provide further reading in relevant posts.  It should also be noted that throughout his life, Bryn Jones had next to no input on the graphic design of his albums, preferring to exclusively deal with the musical aspect. As a result, many of the artists in charge were given free reign, and often chose artwork that could be seen as (and frankly, often was) reducing the diverse cultures of Africa and Asia to an aesthetic. In response to this, I will do my best to also provide information about the different cultures represented in the artwork whenever possible. Islamophobia as well as Antisemitism are horrific and deadly prejudices to hold onto, and I condemn both equally. Free Palestine Now.

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Gulf Between Us, released on March 3rd, 1997. Catalog number: SOL 49 CD (Soleilmoon Recordings) Limited to approximately 907 copies. Photography by Derek Peterson and aerial photos by NASA.

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Hand of Fatima, released posthumously on June 11th, 1999. Catalog number: SOL 90 CD (Soleilmoon Recordings) Limited to 1000 copies. Sleeve note on inside of case reads: "Say, I fly for refuge unto the Lord of the Daybreak, that he may deliver me from the mischief of those things which he hath created." - The Koran; The Chapter of the Daybreak

The title of the album refers to an alternate name for the Hamsa, a symbol commonly associated with warding off evil, as well as providing strength. Within Muslim cultures, it is commonly called the Hand of Fatima in reference to Fatima Al Zahra, who was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. The hand of Fatima is said to symbolize the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (Faith), Salat (Prayer), Zakat (Alms), Sawm (Fasting), and Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Photography for this album was done by André Thijssen

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Hamas Arc, released in October of 1993.  Catalog number: STCD 051 (Staalplaat) This album came with an insert for an exclusive tape, titled Satyajit Eye, with these instructions: “Cut out this original cover for a Muslimgauze DAT tape release with special remixes. Send it to Staalplaat PO BOX 11453 1001 GL Amsterdam The Netherlands with a 60 minutes DAT tape, 6 IRC’s and you will receive this special edition which will not be available in any other format.” Dedicated to the P.L.O.

Photograph on cover is “Veiled women practice shooting on the outskirts...” by Jean Gaumy, taken northeast of Tehran, Iran in 1986.

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Mort Aux Vaches, released in April of 1998. Created as part of the Mort Aux Vaches series, a broadcast series commissioned by the Dutch broadcasting corporation Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep. Limited to 1000 hand-numbered copies.

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Al-Zulfiquar Shaheed, released in December of 1994. Catalog number: TCD 01 (T.4) Dedicated to every Arab killed by Israël.

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Arab Quarter, released on October 31st, 1996. Catalog number: SOL 44 CD (Soleilmoon Recordings)

"Dedicated to Palestinians living under Israel's jackboot. I cannot begin to know how it feels, I can only understand the revenge taken" - Bryn Jones

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Narcotic, released on June 10th, 1997. Catalog number: STCD 122 (Staalplaat) Portrait featured on the cover of the album is a variation of an illustration by an anonymous Indian artist of Chandra Shekhar Azad, an Indian freedom fighter who helped reorganize the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army. The illustration on the back of the case appears to be a portrayal of Azad’s death, where he was surrounded by police in Azad Park, and subsequently shot himself so as to not be captured by the British. 

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Betrayal, released in November of 1993. Catalog number: ST CD 058 (Staalplaat) Dedicated to a united Arab response.

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Zuriff Moussa, released on November 11th, 1997. Catalog number: MUSLIMLIM 012 Limited to 700 hand-numbered copies. Part of the Muslimgauze Subscription series. Text on inside of digipak reads: Zurif - Palestinian Village. Moussa - Hamas Martyr. Dedicated to Abdullah Kalil Abdullah, Palestinian killed by Israel. "Your blood will not be wasted, and the answer will be in Tel Aviv" - quote from a chant at his burial.

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Salaam Alekum, Bastard, released on February 5th 1995. Catalog number: SOL 25 CD (Soleilmoon Recordings) Limited to approximately 1850 copies. Dedicated to the invisible hands of revenge.

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Iran, released in September of 1988. Catalog number: ST CD 001 (Staalplaat) Liner note above tracklisting reads: “At last, the power, and integrity of Muslimgauze music is available on compact disc. As before the political facts of Palestine, Afghanistan and Iran influence the music of Muslimgauze.” This album included an essay entitled “Knitting With Fog / Without Manual”, which can be read here.

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In Search of Ahmad Shah Masood, released in August of 1998. Catalog number: MUSLIMLIM 015 Limited to 300 hand-numbered copies. Part of the Muslimgauze Subscription series. The title of the album refers to Ahmad Shah Massoud, an Afghan politician and guerilla commander who fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, and later against the Taliban throughout the 1990s. Massoud was assassinated on September 9th, 2001.

Additional reading can be found here: Afghanistan in the shadow of Ahmad Shah Massoud by Hashmat Moslih The Last Interview with Ahmad Shah Masood, conducted by Piotr Balcerowicz MEANWHILE: Remembering Massoud, a fighter for peace by Amin Saikal

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Observe with Sadiq Bey, released on January 19th, 1999. Catalog number: STCD 131 (Staalplaat) Dedicated to the Naqba, the catastrophe of 50 years ago. The text on the inside of the case reads: "The Israeli occupiers have made all the possible efforts that could be made by any colonialist to change the face of Palestine and to deny the existence of the Palestinians"  -  Yasser Arafat, 1998.

The title of the album appears to refer to Muhammad Sadiq Bey, an Egyptian-born photographer who chronicled the holy city of Makkah (also known as Mecca) for the first time on film. 

The album cover is a photograph taken by Alexandre Bougault in Algeria, circa 1938. 

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Maroon, released in May of 1995. Catalog number: STCD 084 (Staalplaat) Limited to 1,000 digipak copies, with a postcard insert inside each. First 500 copies were sealed with a Palestinian Authority stamp. Postcard reads: “Muslimgauze will never condemn any act of direct action, The PLO or Hamas feels is necessary to free all occupied territories. Living in a democracy and able to vote, you cannot judge those unable to do so. When you cannot alter a situation by the vote, an occupation has to be ended by any means those being killed in their own land feel necessary. Imagine you are a Palestinian, marooned in Gaza, a prisoner in your own land, no vote, a future? Israel feeding and drinking off your land, what is your answer?”

Dedicated to people forced into direct action due to vile regimes.

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Return of Black September, released on August 7th, 1996.  Catalog number: MUSLIMLIM 004 Limited to 500 hand-numbered copies. Part of the Muslimgauze Subscription series. Cover photo is “Hound”, taken in 1938 by Josef Koudelka.

The title of the album refers to The Black September, a conflict between the King Hussein-led Jordanian Armed Forces and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which took place in September of 1970. PLO: History of a Revolution - Black September, published by Al Jazeera Footage of the Battle for Amman, published by AP Archive Palestine Paramilitary Organizations, Black September, the PLO and Israel (1976 Documentary Film)

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Armsbazzar, released posthumously on August 14th, 2008. Catalog number: ESS011 (Essence Music) Limited to 999 hand-numbered copies. This release compiles the EPs Gulf Between Us and Hebron Massacre, and includes two unreleased tracks. Artwork by Mohammad Fadaei An other run of this CD was released in 149 hand-numbered boxes which came with figurines, cloth, posters, and six cards. Fadaei’s official website

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Sandtrafikar, released on November 11th, 1997. Catalog number:  MUSLIMLIM 011 Limited to 800 hand-numbered copies. Part of the Muslimgauze Subscription series. Cover photo is of a young Ouled Naïl woman in Southeast Algeria, taken by Lehnert and Landrock.  More information on the Ouled Naïl can be found here: “The Art of Defence -  Ouled Naïl”  “The Ouled Naïl”