# Help me find middle-eastern-style techno! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599 "2007-10-22T18:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/1 "2007-10-22T18:20:11Z")
Name says it all. I’m looking for a mood-piece for a Shadowrun game I’m running that will have some scenes in the middle-east. I need something dancable that would have both a middle-eastern and techno feel, and I’ve no idea where to even start. A lack of vocals is a plus, but not fully necessary. So, hit me with whatcha got. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/2 "2007-10-22T18:40:23Z")
There is a good piece on Fifth Element (the movie with Bruce Willis) but the soundtrack album did not include it. You might want to search for it. Khaled might not be techno enough for you on his original versions, but there are tons of remixes of Aicha that kick serious arse. Ditto for Lisa Gerrard. Many of her songs have been remixed to death on any style of techno you fancy. The Host of Seraphim is the unlikely source of many of her best remixes. And then there is Ofra Haza. Galbi is another of those songs that just begs to be remixed. She has plenty others. Don’t be disuaded by finding a couple of slow songs from her. They have all been remixed to techno. Good luck. Post results. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/3 "2007-10-22T18:49:10Z")
Check out some Thievery Corporation. In particular, I am thinking “Facing East,” off of _Richest Man in Babylon_. [You can hear a sample here.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEYLA8/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk2/103-5242062-8103035) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/4 "2007-10-22T19:41:33Z")
You might check out Muslimgauze as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/5 "2007-10-22T19:57:15Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] You might check out Muslimgauze as well. [/QUOTE] You know, I was going to mention them but then I thought they were more ambient than techno. Then I went and searched for more of their work and some of that stuff is just perfect for an RPG session background music. (just don’t buy “Vote Hezbollah” online!) ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/6 "2007-10-22T20:13:33Z")
[DJ Cheb I Sabbah](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=dj+cheb) does a good range of electronica in that vein. I would also second some [Thievery Corporation](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=thievery+corporation) and [Anubian Lights](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=anubian), though they’re a bit more ambient. Although, for dark and sensual moody middle-eastern ambiance, nobody beats [Azam Ali](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=azam+ali) (her collaborative effort with Niyaz is worth checking out, as well). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/7 "2007-10-23T02:03:00Z")
Maybe you could find something suitable in the [Egyptian Heavy Metal](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=egyptian+heavy+metal+band) department? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/8 "2007-10-23T03:04:38Z")
Google rai and Rachid Taha, rai is north african music but might sound like you want, alot of it is techno-ised. Rachid Taha mixes rock, rai and electronica so worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/9 "2007-10-23T04:46:29Z")
I have mentioned them before, and I’ll give a shoutout once more to [Dissidenten](http://www.dissidenten.com/dissistart.html) (_Dizzie-dentin’_). I have only heard one of their older albums called **Sahara Elektrik** , which IMHO might have some classic music that would fit well with your theme. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/10 "2007-10-23T05:56:32Z")
[QUOTE=Headrush042] [DJ Cheb I Sabbah](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=dj+cheb) does a good range of electronica in that vein. I would also second some [Thievery Corporation](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=thievery+corporation) and [Anubian Lights](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=anubian), though they’re a bit more ambient. Although, for dark and sensual moody middle-eastern ambiance, nobody beats [Azam Ali](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=azam+ali) (her collaborative effort with Niyaz is worth checking out, as well). [/QUOTE] Check out [Niyaz Remixed](http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fid%253D108211783%2526s%253D143441). ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/11 "2007-10-23T09:02:46Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] Google rai and Rachid Taha, rai is north african music but might sound like you want, alot of it is techno-ised. Rachid Taha mixes rock, rai and electronica so worth a look. [/QUOTE] Rashid Taha is who I wanted to mention also: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nUbzX3izyw4/hqdefault.jpg "Rachid taha barra barra") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUbzX3izyw4) > **[Garab — Rachid Taha | Last.fm](https://www.last.fm/music/Rachid+Taha/_/Garab)** > > Watch the video for Garab from Rachid Taha's Made In Medina for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/12 "2007-10-23T15:25:08Z")
[QUOTE=Headrush042] Although, for dark and sensual moody middle-eastern ambiance, nobody beats [Azam Ali](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-2264721-7602429?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=azam+ali) (her collaborative effort with Niyaz is worth checking out, as well). [/QUOTE] This was going to be my recommendation. I love Niyaz. Fantastic, fantastic disc. (And now I covet the “Remixed” version too.) ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/13 "2007-10-23T16:24:50Z")
I’m fond of a Moroccan band called Aisha Kandisha’s Jarring Effects. Not sure how techno it is (I know nothing of all those whompy genres), but it sounds like mix of electronic dance music and Arabic folk music to me. _Shabeesation_ is available through CDBaby. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-middle-eastern-style-techno/423599/14 "2007-10-23T17:13:19Z")
Check out Karsh Kale, too.