Ruptured

05/12/2024

Grateful to and for this beautiful, in depth review of Yara Asmar’s latest album Stuttering Music, released by Ruptured in November.

“The toy instruments and edited field recordings of her earliest work have gradually given way as her grandmother’s accordion has increasingly taken center stage, as it does on Stuttering Music, its drones drifting and mutating, processed and thickened with electroacoustic effects.
At times reminiscent of Tim Hecker’s tectonic drones or Keith Fullerton Whitman’s ethereal signal processing, the most obvious referent may be the way Pauline Oliveros treated her own accordion sounds, though Asmar’s dilation of time functions more through streaked harmonic overtones rather than accumulated delays.”

We still have a handful of copies of the cassette’s second pressing available on , get them while you can.

Link to the cassette & to Joseph’s feature at the linktree in bio.

03/12/2024

Lebanese artist, musician and performer SANDY CHAMOUN is the guest of Ziad Nawfal’s December broadcast for Stegi Radio in Athens.

Tune in to Stegi Radio https://stegi.radio/ this TUESDAY 03 DECEMBER at 3pm Montréal / 10pm Athens + Beirut.

Sandy’s latest release GHADR, a trio album with Anthony Sahyoun and Jad Atoui, was released by Ruptured just last Friday. You can hear an excerpt from it at the beginning of today’s broadcast.

TRACK LISTING:
- Sandy Chamoun / Anthony Sahyoun / Jad Atoui: Taha Layl
- Stress Distress: The Jetty
- Jad Atoui: Alpha 60
- NP (Anthony Sahyoun & Jad Atoui): Iridescence
- Sandy Chamoun: Ahlam al khayal احلام الخيال

SANDY CHAMOUN GUEST MIX

- Anthony Sahyoun feat. Julia Sabra: Wasted Efforts
- Marc Codsi: Fugue 1
- Youmna Saba: Al Khayal
- Kamilya Jubran: Wahdi
- Diamanda Galas: Judgment Day
- Howie Lee: Bankers
- Katibeh Khamseh: Silat Rahem
- Arca: Prada/Rakata
- Malayeen: Omar
- Jerusalem in my Heart: 2asmar Sahar
- Mohamad Omran: Aslamtou Wajhi
- Saint Abdullah: Sounds from the Hosseinieh
- Abdullah Miniawy: Purple Feathers

03/12/2024

Lebanese artist, musician and performer SANDY CHAMOUN is the guest of Ziad Nawfal’s December broadcast for Stegi Radio in Athens.

Tune in to Stegi Radio https://stegi.radio/ this TUESDAY 03 DECEMBER at 3pm Montréal / 10pm Athens + Beirut.

Sandy’s latest release GHADR, a trio album with Anthony Sahyoun and Jad Atoui, was released by Ruptured just last Friday. You can hear an excerpt from it at the beginning of today’s broadcast.

TRACK LISTING:
- Sandy Chamoun / Anthony Sahyoun / Jad Atoui: Taha Layl
- Stress Distress: The Jetty
- Jad Atoui: Alpha 60
- NP (Anthony Sahyoun & Jad Atoui): Iridescence
- Sandy Chamoun: Ahlam al khayal احلام الخيال

SANDY CHAMOUN GUEST MIX

- Anthony Sahyoun feat. Julia Sabra: Wasted Efforts
- Marc Codsi: Fugue 1
- Youmna Saba: Al Khayal
- Kamilya Jubran: Wahdi
- Diamanda Galas: Judgment Day
- Howie Lee: Bankers
- Katibeh Khamseh: Silat Rahem
- Arca: Prada/Rakata
- Malayeen: Omar
- Jerusalem in my Heart: 2asmar Sahar
- Mohamad Omran: Aslamtou Wajhi
- Saint Abdullah: Sounds from the Hosseinieh
- Abdullah Miniawy: Purple Feathers

26/11/2024

Grateful to James GUI for including GHADR غدر, the first release by Sandy Chamoun, Anthony Sahyoun and Jad Atoui, in his latest “Ley Lines” column on Bandcamp Daily.
He has some beautiful words to say about the album, too.

“On this record, [Beirut DIY] scene stalwarts Anthony Sahyoun and Sandy Chamoun (SANAM) join forces with electroacoustic artist Jad Atoui in a reckoning with tradition that’s fueled by stuttering sub bass, searing guitar textures, and layers of melancholy vocals.

Chamoun’s ghostly rendition of “Tahal Layl”—a Bedouin folk song—floats atop drones that expand into a blistering modular onslaught; “Al Moulatham,” on the other hand, interpolates reflections by Yousef al-Domouky on the genocide in Gaza over glitchy, Tim Hecker-esque ambient swells.

Ghadr exhorts us to listen to both violence and repair, mobilizing tradition to face an uncertain future.”

Read James’s full text / stream first single “Hayawanon Ghader” / read Daryl Worthington’s fantastic album onesheet / preorder the vinyl — all at linktree in bio.

.saade.reel .worthington

23/11/2024

Lebanese trio Sandy Chamoun / Anthony Sahyoun / Jad Atoui is releasing its first album “Ghadr” for Ruptured on Friday 29 November.

PREMIERING IN FULL ON RADIO ALHARA
Sunday 24 November 2024
9pm Bethlehem / 9pm Beirut / 2pm Montreal

https://www.radioalhara.net/

TRACK LISTING:

1. Chamoun / Sahyoun / Atoui: Taha Layl [Ghadr]
2. Chamoun / Sahyoun / Atoui: Bihali [Ghadr]
3. Chamoun / Sahyoun / Atoui: Al-Moulatham [Ghadr]
4. Chamoun / Sahyoun / Atoui: Hayawanon Ghader[Ghadr]
5. Chamoun / Sahyoun / Atoui: Atfal Al-Sama [Ghadr]
6. Anthony Sahyoun: Khifat Al-Atraf (with Firas al Hallak) [Proof By Infinite Descent]
7. Stress Distress: The Jetty [The Quiet Zone]
8. Jad Atoui: Alpha 60 [Black Lanterns]
9. NP (Anthony Sahyoun & Jad Atoui): Iridescence [Lattices]
10. Sandy Chamoun: Ahlam al khayal احلام الخيال [Fata17 فتى١٧]

“Ghadr” artwork / album design / flyer design by Hatem Imam .

18/11/2024

Friends in France!
The very fabulous Mayssa Jallad has announced a handful of live dates in your country, in December 2024. More details at the link below.
Not to be missed under any pretext.

Mayssa Jallad has announced a handful of French dates in support of her album Marjaa: The Battle of the Hotels ( #41 in The Wire’s Albums of the Year 2023). She will be accompanied on stage by…

12/11/2024

In tandem with our release of Julia Sabra’s first solo album Natural History Museum earlier this month, we’ve managed to retrieve some long-lost vinyl stock of her band Postcards’ terrific sophomore album, I’ll Be Here In The Morning.

“A patient album of understated beauty – thoughtful and deliberate.” - Project Revolver (LB)

140gsm vinyl includes digital download and lyrics.
Cover photo by Rachel Tabet . Design by .

20 copies in pristine condition are currently on sale on our Bandcamp page:
https://rupturedthelabel.bandcamp.com/album/ill-be-here-in-the-morning-ruptured-t3

Portrait of Postcards by Nessim Stevenson .

11/11/2024

Julia Sabra’s first solo album Natural History Museum is a Bandcamp Essential Release, courtesy of J. Edward Keyes . Thank you kindly, Joseph. We find the comparison with Karen Dalton and Judee Sill very much on point :)

“The results are breathtaking, recalling other folk mystics like Karen Dalton and Judee Sill as well as more contemporary names like Mazzy Star and Cowboy Junkies. Sabra keeps the lyrics sparse and evocative, and the impressionistic approach suits the music’s minimalism.
(…)
There’s something almost prayer-like about Natural History Museum, a kind of holiness and solemnity that pushes it into a realm beyond our own. The only choice is to attend to it with the closest of listens—all the better to catch its secrets.”

Read the full article at the linktree in our bio.

Our dear friend Joseph Ghosn also wrote some beautifully touching words about Julia’s songs, on his indispensable Instagram page, which we’ve taken the liberty to translate:

“Julia’s music has the extreme sweetness and melancholy of some of the greatest and least known - Linda Perhacs, Judee Sill... with something even more intimate, more crumpled up inside.
(…)
To understand that you can sing the melancholy of love and the melancholy of war, in the same breath.”

Natural History Museum is streaming everywhere, but we prefer that you listen and support us (and Julia) on our Bandcamp page. Link in bio.

The video of Skyscape was made by . Her gorgeous images are a boon amidst the daily horror.

Stay safe?
x

05/11/2024

Ziad Nawfal’s monthly broadcast for Stegi Radio in Athens — with a focus on music from Lebanon and the MENA region.
Tune in to Stegi Radio https://stegi.radio/ this TUESDAY 05 NOVEMBER at 3pm Montréal / 10pm Athens + Beirut.

TRACK LIST
- Azu Tiwaline: Long Hypnosis
- Deena Abdelwahed: Complain
- Use Knife: Coupe d’état (Muqata’a مقاطعة Remix)
- Nour Sokhon: The destruction and the rebuilding
- Ralph Chbeir: Olive Trees
- Kid Fourteen: Learning How to Die
- Sanam: Mouathibatti (Live at Cafe Oto)
- Nadah El Shazly: Mausoleum
- Julia Sabra: Minor Detail
- Fatima Al Qadiri: Medieval Femme
- Los Panteros: Ya Tayren Tayer يا طيرٍ طاير
- Yara Asmar: cold feet and hot air balloons

Thank you for listening.
Photo by Tanya Traboulsi ❤️

Azu Tiwaline Deena Abdelwahed Use Knife Muqata'a - مُقاطعة Nour Sn Kid Fourteen Anthony Sahyoun Nadah El Shazly ندى الشاذلي Radwan Ghazi Moumneh Mais Um Julia Sabra Fatima Al Qadiri Tony Elieh Aya Metwalli Asadun Alay Records

01/11/2024

Happy release day to Julia Sabra and Yara Asmar, whose two new albums are out in full today.

“Stuttering Music” is Yara Asmar’s third album. It consists of 7 pieces recorded on accordion, metallophone & electronics, initially recorded for a broadcast by Radio Alhara راديو الحارة (Bethlehem, Palestine).

“Natural History Museum” is the first solo release by Julia Sabra, the co-founder of dreampop trio Postcards and electronic duo Snakeskin. The album is an intimate collection of songs, 8 fragile lullabies written between 2020 and 2024, and a luminous Barbara cover.

Both albums are released in full today and are streaming on digital platforms.

If you preordered the digital version from us, it is now available to download in your digital format of choice. Physical preorders were mailed earlier this week.

The portraits of Yara are by Myriam Boulos. Those of Julia by Nessim Stevenson.

Thanks to Peter Hollo and Christina Hazboun for playing these two albums on their radio broadcasts, respectively ‘Utility Fog’ on FBi Radio and ‘Another world is possible’ on Stegi Radio.

And as always we thank you for your support, it means a lot in these tragic times we are living in.
Be well x

23/10/2024

Today Ruptured announces the third album by Lebanese musician and video artist Yara Asmar.

Stuttering Music consists of 7 pieces recorded on accordion, metallophone & electronics.
The music was initially recorded for a broadcast by Radio AlHara (Bethlehem, Palestine) entitled ‘half-baked waltzes 2 fold your laundry to’ - a bi-monthly hour of improvisations.
https://yaraasmar.bandcamp.com/album/stuttering-music

First excerpt ‘i am a terrible mathematician (and an even worse clown)’ is currently streaming on Bandcamp and digital platforms. The album will be released in full on November 1st.

It will be available as a digital album and a limited edition of 50 cassettes, beautifully designed by Yara in various European airports in the summer of 2024, and printed & packaged in Canada.

The video for ‘i am a terrible mathematician (and an even worse clown)’ was made by Yara.
Watch it in full: https://youtu.be/21uQUAjb1DA

Yara Asmar’s previous two albums, ‘Home Recordings 2018-2021’ (2022) and ‘synth waltzes & accordion laments’ (2023), were released by UK label Hive Mind recently reissued both albums on vinyl in a gorgeous gatefold package.

Last but not least, Yara is set to perform at Le Guess Who? Festival Le Guess Who? in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in November 2024, both as a solo artist and as part of fellow Lebanese artist Liliane Chlela’s project “I, the hybrid and the antidote”.

Portrait of Yara by Myriam Boulos .

23/10/2024

Today Ruptured announces the first solo album by Julia Sabra, singer & lyricist with dreampop trio Postcards and electronic duo Snakeskin.

Natural History Museum is an intimate collection of songs, fragile and luminous, written between 2020 and 2024.
https://juliasabra.bandcamp.com/album/natural-history-museum

In Julia’s words, “I wanted to capture these songs the way they were written, by keeping the rawness and fragility intact.
Fadi and I decided to record them live to tape, with no overdubs, barely any effect - with all the imperfections. Most of the tracks were done in one take only. Some were recorded in Tunefork Studios in Beirut, and some in the church I grew up going to every summer in Dhour Shweir.
These songs would’ve probably stayed in my ‘songs in limbo’ folder on my laptop had it not been for Pascal and Fadi, who pushed me to release them. And for this I’m eternally grateful.”

First single Skyscape is streaming on Bandcamp and digital platforms as you read this. The album will be released in full on November 1st.
It will be available as a digital album and a limited edition of 50 cassettes, beautifully designed by Josette Khalil in Beirut and printed & packaged in Canada.

The video for Skyscape was filmed and edited by Camille Cabbabé. Watch it in full: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJy4Xp2Nox0

Portrait of Julia by Nessim Stevenson.

19/10/2024

Big thanks to Byron Coley for reviewing 3 cassettes released by Ruptured this year, in the November issue of The Wire magazine:
Transient Organ by Munma,
Marmalsana by Tony Elieh, Burkhard Beins & Maurice Louca,
N**e Beginnings by Moose Terrific.

Thanks as well to Shane Woolman for always making space for us in the magazine ♥️

Head over to thewire.co.uk to read the review, or better still, purchase a physical copy from your favorite newsstand.

And while you’re at it, make your way to our Bandcamp page to listen to the 3 albums pictured above, and all the other nonsense we put out there:
https://rupturedthelabel.bandcamp.com/

16/10/2024

Ziad Nawfal’s monthly broadcast for in Bethlehem, Palestine — this Wednesday 16 October at 3pm Montreal / 10pm Bethlehem & Beirut.

https://radioalhara.net/

Track List:

- Muslimgauze: Anti-Arab Media Censor
- Muslimgauze: Arabic American Radio-Song 7
- Muslimgauze: Caste
- Muslimgauze: Hammam Jackal
- Muslimgauze: Palestine Is Our Islamic Land
- Muslimgauze: Re-mix from « Vote Hezbollah »
- Muslimgauze: Ryoji-Ikeda-Re-Mixs 02
- Muslimgauze: Minaret Above All Others
- Muslimgauze: Sari of Aciddic Colours
- Muslimgauze: Shimmer, Then Disappear 3
- Muslimgauze: Najibullah Headless
- Muslimgauze: Shishla Nain Royal Bidjar
- Muslimgauze: Turkish Manipulator of Limbs
- Muslimgauze: Turn on Arabic American Radio-Song 4

And thank you Mark Trecka, for the beautiful card and words.

05/10/2024

Ruptured has teamed up with the wonderful folks from UK label Mais Um Discos, to co-distribute ‘They Kept Our Photographs’, the second album by Lebanese duo Snakeskin (Julia Sabra and Fadi Tabbal).

Back in 2021, we were fortunate enough to release Snakeskin’s first, eponymous album in partnership with Beacon Sound in Portland. That album was recorded in the aftermath of the August 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed more than 200 people, injured 7,000, and left over 300,000 people homeless.

As staggering as these numbers may appear, they are nothing compared to what is happening in Lebanon at the moment, what has happened in Gaza for the past year, and the absolute carnage and atrocities perpetrated by Israel with impunity on a daily, hourly basis.

Julia and Fadi are currently providing aid and basic necessities to the refugees in Beirut who are fleeing the bombings in ever-increasing numbers.
More on that at instagram.com/tuneforkstudios/

Snakeskin’s gorgeous new album will be released by Mais Um Discos in the UK on October 11th. Our copies have made it to Canada, and we will start shipping them out next week.
https://snakeskinband.bandcamp.com/album/they-kept-our-photographs-2

Stay strong, stay safe, stay alive,
xRptd