The band’s first album is titled “La Bombe”, also a title for the shows performed at Metro Al Madina which have received great feedback for over two years. This album’s most noticeable trait is the political and social satire present in almost every song. The album’s tracks address many aspects such as religious extremism, cultural, artistic and political disorder, and most importantly, hysteria within an entire nation. The music arrangements were done differently in this album, including instruments such as the violin, the Cello, the accordion and the tuba. The band began recording “La Bombe” in December 2015, after they got a grant from AFAC. Recording and mixing were done at One Hertz Studios under the supervision of sound engineer Jawad Chaaban. In 2015, the band performed in Jordan and proceeded to go on tour around Europe as part of the Beirut and Beyond Music Festival in 2017. All production was handled by Metro Al Madina.
The Great Departed was founded in 2013 and it consists of the music composer Khaled Soubeih and Solo Singers Naim El Asmar and Sandy Chamoun, as well as the Oud player Imad Hashisho, the Buzuq player Abed Kobaissy and the percussionist Ali El Hout. The Great Departed band tries to originate a new course differing from the members’ usual projects. And so, the band’s goal has become to explore new musical and lyrical paths, all while keeping their own personal oriental music repertoires as inspiration.
The Great Departed began performing in Summer 2013 and grew bigger as their shows in Metro Al Madina were very well received. In August 2014, the band launched a series of shows titled “La Bombe”, in which they performed songs with main themes being tyranny and sociopolitical critique.
credits
released March 1, 2016
Album Credits:
Khaled Soubeih: Piano & Backing Vocals
Naim El Asmar: Vocals
Sandy Shamoun: Vocals
Imad Hashisho: Oud & Backing Vocals
Abed Kobaissy: Buzuq & Backing Vocals
Ali El Hout: Percussion & Backing Vocals
With the collaboration of Samah BoulMona: Accordion
Mohammed Nahas: Qanun , Antoine Khalife Michel Khairallah, Michel El Murr, Anne-Claire Khoury: Violins, Anastasia El Murr: Cello.
Music Production: Khaled Soubeih.
Co-Produced by Metro Al Madina and The Great Departed.
Artistic Direction: Naim El Asmar.
Production Managment: Metro Al Madina
Recording and mixing: One Hertz Studios under the supervision of sound engineer Jawad Chaaban
Mastering Engineer: Khayam Allami
Album Design: Ramy Al Asmar & George Tabatadze.
Logo Design: Hussien Majed.
Thanks:
AFAC, Hisham Jaber, Sarah Nohra, Ziad El Ahmadie, Rayan Majed, Haytham Chamas, Sirine El Asir
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