Muslimgauze was the stage name of Bryn Jones (June 17, 1961 - January 14, 1999), a prolific British electronic music artist, strongly influenced by everything to do with the Middle East. The name Muslimgauze was derived from the word 'muslin', which is a type of gauze, and somehow it was changed into an adjective describing the area in which he was interested.

He was a staunch supporter of Hamas and PLO, and he believed Palestine should be freed from the Zionists. Born in Manchester, England, he never visited the Middle East, because he believed it was wrong to visit an occupied land. [1]

Strongly against the use of computers and samplers in music, Jones always recorded his music with old analogue equipment. He would record himself playing various Middle Eastern instruments, and record voices of Middle Eastern people from old tapes. Jones' music was heavily percussive; a review of a rare live performance notes that Jones used a "backing DAT tape with pretty harsh, rhythmic textures, his sort of patented spiralling hypnotic beat, to which he played on two or three different drums with great skill." [2]

He actually never looped his music; it was all recorded live, and edited/mixed afterwards. The end result was often loud and staticky, with sudden changes in volume. Jones was never concerned with how many copies of his record were sold, or even how much listeners enjoyed his music, but rather how original his music was.

The Muslimgauze discography is extremely vast. He released over 90 original albums on 32 different record labels, putting forth nearly 2,000 original songs. Every Muslimgauze piece of music was inspired by a political fact or event. There have been several repressings of his work, seeing as, after 1994, most of his albums were released in limited editions of usually 200-1,000. Due to the repressings, he has 178 releases at the time of this writing, but the number is rapidly increasing.

He first began making music in 1982, under the alias of E.g Oblique Graph, to protest the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. He released four cassettes as E.g Oblique Graph; Extended Play (1982), Piano Room (1982), Triptych (1982), and Inhalt (1983). After he changed his name to Muslimgauze, he released a 7" EP (Hammer & Sickle), his first full-length LP (Kabul), and another cassette (Opaques) in 1983.

In 1990, he was signed to the record label Extreme, which he left in 1994 for Dutch label Staalplaat and American label Soleilmoon . His releases were not being released as promptly as he had wanted. He was also not receiving payment, and since he had put forth seven releases since he signed, money was becoming a problem.

His output was always very high. In 1995, he put forth six releases. In 1996, fifteen. In 1997, nine. In 1998, sixteen. After his death, the many record companies he had associated with released unreleased material and repressed older, out-of-print material. In 1999, the year of his death, twenty-two new (and old) albums and EPs on several media were released.

Jones disliked live shows, and was rarely asked to do them, which is why Muslimgauze performances were so rare. He has always stated that he never had time to play other people's music, although in a 1992 interview with Impulse Magazine , he mentioned that he enjoys traditional music of Japan, the Middle East, and India, as well as the works of artists such as Can, Throbbing Gristle, Wire, and Faust. However, despite a few collaborations, Jones didn't trust anyone when it came to remixing his music.

On Wednesday, December 30, 1998, Bryn was rushed to the hospital in Manchester with an unknown illness. He had a rare fungal infection in his bloodstream, and had to be heavily sedated all the time. His body eventually shut down, and he passed away at 22:50 GMT on Thursday, January 14, 1999.

Discography

• Extended Play @ (1982) Kinematograph Tapes (KT001) CAS
• Piano Room @ (1982) Kinematograph Tapes (KT002) CAS
• Triptych @ (1982) Recloose (LOOSE 002) 7" EP
• Inhalt @ (1983) Kinematograph Tapes (KT003) CAS
• Hammer & Sickle (1983) Hessian (HESSIAN 1) 7" EP
• Kabul (1983) Product Kinematograph (PKR-1) LP
• Opaques (1983) Product Kinematograph (PKR-2) CAS
• Hunting Out with an Aerial Eye (1984) Limited Editions (LIMITED 1) 12" EP
• Buddhist on Fire/Triptych (1984) Recloose (LOOSE 008/002) LP/7" EP
• Buddhist on Fire (1984) Recloose (LOOSE 008) LP
• Blinded Horses (1985) Limited Editions (LIMITED 2) LP
• Flajelata (1986) Limited Editions (LIMITED 3) LP
• Hajj (1986) Limited Editions (LIMITED 4) LP
• Jazirat-Ul-Arab (1987) Limited Editions (LIMITED 5) LP
• Abu Nidal (1987) Limited Editions (LIMITED 6) LP
• Coup D'Etat (1987) Permis de Constuire (PDC 005) LP
• The Rape of Palestine (1988) Limited Editions (LIMITED 7) LP
• Untitled (Compilation) (1988) Soleilmoon (SOL 2) CAS
• Iran (1988) Staaltape (STCD 001) CD
• Iran (Second Issue) (1988) Staalplaat (STCD 001) CD
• Uzi (1989) Parade Amoureuse (PHOE 02) LP
• Uzi (The Rape of Palestine) (Compilation) (1989) Parade Amoureuse (PHOE 027CD) CD
• split (Split Cassette with F.A.R. ) (1990) Minus Habens (MBT 016) CAS
• Intifaxa (1990) Extreme (XCD 002) CD
• Intifaxa (1990) Extreme (XCT 015) CAS
• United States of Islam (1991) Extreme (XCD 007) CD
• Bhutto (1992) Extreme (XCS 012) 12cm MCD
• Zul'm (1992) Extreme (XCD 012) CD
• Coup D'Etat (1992) Soleilmoon (SOL 2 CD) CD
• Red Crescent Part 3 (1993) The Way Out (WAY OUT 002) 7" EP
• Vote Hezbollah (1993) Soleilmoon (SOL 17 CD) CD
• Hamas Arc (1993) Staalplaat (STCD 051) CD
• Satyajit Eye (1993) Staalplaat (ST DAT 001) DAT
• Betrayal (1993) Staalplaat (STCD 058) CD
• Veiled Sisters (1993) Soleilmoon (SOL 20 CD) 2xCD
• Iran (Third Issue) (1993) Soleilmoon (STCD 001) CD
• Emak Bakia (1994) Concrete (CPRODCD020) CD
• Citadel (Promo) (1994) Extreme (XCD 026) CD
• Citadel (1994) Extreme (XCD 026) CD
• Infidel (1994) Extreme (XEP 026) CD
• Zealot (1994) Staalplaat (STCD 072) 2xCD
• Hebron Massacre (1994) Soleilmoon (SOL 24 CD) CD
• Nile Quatra (1994) Jara (JARA 002) 7" EP
• Blue Mosque (1994) Staalplaat (STCD 081) 2xCD
• Drugspherpa (1994) Staalplaat (STMCD 001) 8cm MCD
• Al-Zulfiquar Shaheed (1994) T.4 (TCD 01) CD
• Salaam Alekum, Bastard (1995) Soleilmoon (SOL 25 CD) CD
• Maroon (1995) Staalplaat (STCD 084) CD
• Nadir of Purdah (1995) Jara (JARA 1201) 12" EP
• Silknoose (1995) Daft (D1005 CD) CD
• Izlamaphobia (1995) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 001) 2xCD
• No Human Rights for Arabs in Israel (1995) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 002) 10" EP
• Gun Aramaic (1996) Soleilmoon (SOL 27 CD) CD
• Gun Aramaic Part 2 (1996) Soleilmoon (SOL 32 CD) CD
• Azzazin (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 003) CD
• Bandit Queen E.P. (1996) Pi TB (Pi 1205) 12" EP
• Minaret-Speaker (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 005) 7" EP
• untitled (1996) Syntactic (MUSLIM 15) 7" EP
• Return of Black September (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 004) CD
• Uzbekistani Bizzare and Souk (1996) Staalplaat (ST DAT 004) DAT
• Zealot (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 006) 10" EP
• Occupied Territories (1996) Staalplaat (STCD 110) 2xCD
• Re-mixs (1996) Soleilmoon (SOL 37 CD) CD
• Deceiver (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 008) 2xCD
• Arab Quarter (1996) Soleilmoon (SOL 44 CD) 2xCD
• Fatah Guerrilla (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 009) 3xCD
• Azzazin 2 (1996) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM007) 10" EP
• Gulf Between US (1997) Soleilmoon (SOL 49 CD) 12cm MCD
• Beyond the Blue Mosque (Compilation) (1997) Staalplaat (STCD 116) CD
• Narcotic (1997) Staalplaat (STCD 122) CD
• split (Split EP with Les Joyaux de la Princesse) Anathor (ANTR 002) 10" EP
• City of Djinn (1997) Third Eye (TEMCD009) CD
• Jaal Ab Dullah (1997) Soleilmoon (SOL 53 CD) CD
• Sandtrafikar (1997) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 011) CD
• Zuriff Moussa (1997) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 012) CD
• Farouk Enjineer (1997) Soleilmoon (SOL 61 CD) CD
• Vampire of Tehran (1998) Staalplaat (STCD 127) CD
• Lahore & Marseille (1998) Soleilmoon (SOL 63 CD) 2x12cm MCD
• Syrinjia (1998) Soleilmoon (SOLV 007) LP
• Mort Aux Vaches (1998) Staalplaat (no #) CD
• Mazar-I-Sharif (1998) Soleilmoon (SOL 70 CD) CD
• Tandoori Dog (1998) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 010) 4xLP
• Uzi Mahmoood (1998) Soleilmoon (SOLV 009) 12" EP
• Sonar vs. Muslimgauze (1998) Daft (D1028) 12cm MCD
• Mullah Said (1998) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 018) CD
• In Search of Ahmad Shah Masood (1998) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 015) MD
• Remixs Vol. 2 (1998) Soleilmoon (SOL 78 CD) CD
• Fedayeen (1998) Staalplaat /EARLabs (MUSLIMLIM 019) MP3
• Melt (1998) Staalplaat /Pretentious (MUSLIMLIM 020) MP3
• Dark Thoughts (1998) D.O.R. (ADOR 2333) CD
• Azure Deux (Compilation) (1998) Staalplaat (STCD 137) CD
• Remixs Vol 3. (1998) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 017) CD
• Hussein Mahmood Jeeb Tehar Gass (1999) Soleilmoon (SOL 73 CD) CD
• Return to the City of Djinn (1999) Third Eye (TEMCD014) CD
• Port Said (1999) Audio.NL (004) 12" EP
• Observe with Sadiq Bey (1999) Staalplaat (STCD 131) CD
• Muslimgauze vs Species of Fishes (1999) Fishes (FCD 01) CD
• Iranian Female Olympic Table Tennis Team Theme (1999) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 016) CD
• Blue Mosque (Re-Issue) (1999) Staalplaat (STCD 081) 2xCD
• At the City of the Dead (1999) BSI (BSI 1999-1) 12" EP
• At the City of the Dead/Sound Secretion Dub (Promo/Compilation) (1999) BSI (no #) CD-R
• Fakir Sind (1999) Soleilmoon (SOL 80 CD) CD
• Hand of Fatima (1999) Soleilmoon (SOL 90 CD) CD
• Box of Silk and Dogs (1999) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 013) 9xCD
• Hamas Arc (Re-Press) (1999) Staalplaat (STCD 051) CD
• Drugsherpa (Re-Press) (1999) Staalplaat (STMCD 001) 8cm MCD
• Azad (1999) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 022) CD
• Return of Black September (Re-Issue) (1999) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 004) CD-R
• Deceiver (Re-Issue) (1999) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 008) 2xCD
• Fatah Guerrilla (Re-Issue) (1999) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 009) 3xCD
• Lo-fi India Abuse (1999) BSI (BSI 1999-3) CD
• Bass Communion v Muslimgauze (1999) Soleilmoon (SOL 89 CD) CD
• Speaking with Hamas (1999) Staalplaat (STCD 140) CD
• Year Zero (1999) D.O.R. (ADOR 2351) CD
• Untitled (2000) Klanggalerie (GG14) CD
• Unfinished Mosque (2000) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 023) 12" EP
• Sufiq (2000) Soleilmoon (SOL 101 CD) CD
• Lo-fi India Abuse (2000) BSI (BSI 1999-3) LP
• Baghdad (2000) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 014) CD
• New Soul (2000) 3rd Stone (STONE046CD) CD
• Ayatollah Dollar (2000) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 024) 12cm MCD
• Nommos' Return (2000) BSI (BSI 012-10) 10" EP
• Jebel Tariq (2000) Staalplaat /Pretentious (MUSLIMLIM 025) MP3
• Bass Communion v Muslimgauze (EP) (2000) Soleilmoon (SOL 106 CD) CD
• Your Mines in Kabul (2000) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 026) 3xCD
• The Inspirational Sounds of Muslimgauze (Compilation) (2000) Universal Egg (WWCD31) CD
• Abu-Dis (2000) D.O.R. (ADOR 2357) 2xCD
• Fedayeen (Re-Issue) (2000) Tantric Harmonies (TANTRA X1) CD
• Bass Communion v Muslimgauze (Re-Press) (2000) Soleilmoon (SOL 89 CD) CD
• Port Said (Re-Press) (2000) Audio.NL (004) 12" EP
• Jebel Tariq (Promo) (2000) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 025) CD-R
• The Suns of Arqa Mixes (2000) Arka Sound (ARKA 22120) CD
• Muslimgauze (2001) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 028) CD
• Kashmiri Queens (2001) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 030) CD
• Melt (Re-Press) (2001) BSI (BSI 019-1) 12" EP
• Eye for an Eye (2001) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 029) LP
• Hummus (2002) Soleilmoon (SOL 104 CD) CD
• Hamas Cinema Gaza Strip (2002) Staalplaat (STCD 157) CD
• Izlamaphobia (Re-Issue) (2002) Level Plane (LEVEL PLANE 18) 2xLP
• Sarin Israel Nes Ziona (2002) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 031) CD
• Dar Es Salaam (2002) Hidden Art (HI-ART 10) CD
• Completely Oblique @ (Promo/Compilation) (2002) Pretentious (GAUZE 1CD) 2xCD-R
• Completely Oblique @ (Compilation) (2002) Pretentious (GAUZE 1CD) 2xCD-R
• Al-Aqsa Intifada (2002) Third Eye (TEMCD012) CD
• Veiled Sisters Remix (2002) Soleilmoon (SOL 105 CD) CD
• Chapter of Purity (Compilation) (2002) Tantric Harmonies (TANTRA X9) CD
• Maroon (Re-Issue) (2002) Staalplaat (STCD 084) CD
• Uzbekistani Bizzare and Souk (Re-Issue) (2002) Important (IMPREC 007) CD
• Classics Selection (Compilation) (2003) BSI (BSI 029-2) CD
• Iranair Inflight Magazine (2003) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 021) CD
• Vampire of Tehran (Re-Press) (2003) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 021) CD
• Arabbox (2003) Soleilmoon (SOL 144 CD) CD
• Hamas Cinema Gaza Strip (2003) Staalplaat (STCD 157) CD
• Dome of the Rock (2003) anti-zen (ACT144) CD
• From the Edge (Muslimgauze Remixs 1) (2003) Chlorophyll (CH-01a) EP
• Arabbox (Second Issue) (2003) Soleilmoon (SOL 144 CD) CD
• Hamas Arc (Second Re-Press) (2003) Staalplaat (STCD 051) CD
• Beyond the Blue Mosque (Re-Press) (2003) Staalplaat (STCD 116) CD
• Observe with Sadiq Bey (Re-Press) (2003) Staalplaat (STCD 131) CD
• Red Madrassa (2003) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 032) CD
• Alms for Iraq (2003) Soleilmoon (SOL 129 CD) CD
• Remixs 1 + 2 (Re-Issue/Compilation) (2003) Soleilmoon (SOL 131 CD) 2xCD
• Dome of the Rock (Re-Press) (2003) anti-zen (ACT144) CD
• Speaking with Hamas (Re-Press/Compilation) (2003) Staalplaat (STCD 140) CD
• In Search of Ahmad Shah Masood (Re-Issue) (2003) Nexsound (NS19) CD
• Jebel Tariq (Re-Issue) (2003) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 033) CD
• No Human Rights for Arabs in Israel (2004) Vivo/The Label (vivo2004 009CD) CD
• Occupied Territories (Re-Press) (2004) Staalplaat (STCD 110) 2xCD
• Azzazin (Re-Issue) (2004) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 003) CD
• Return of Black September (Re-Issue) (2004) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 004) CD
• Sandtrafikar (Re-Issue) (2004) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 011) CD
• Zuriff Moussa (Re-Issue) (2004) Staalplaat (MUSLIMLIM 012) CD
• Zuriff Moussa (Re-Issue) (2004) Important (IMPREC 025) LP
• From the Edge (2004) Azra (CD-AZRA-202) CD
• Uzbekistani Bizzare and Souk (Re-Issue) (2004) Important (IMPREC 007) CD
• Syrinjia (2004) Soleilmoon (SOL 132 CD) 2xCD
• Jaal Ab Dullah (Re-Issue) (2004) Soleilmoon (SOL 53 CD) CD
• Sufiq (Re-Issue) (2004) Soleilmoon (SOL 101 CD) CD

@ Released as E.g Oblique Graph.

External Links

• To learn more about Muslimgauze, visit Muslimgauze.net.
• To learn more about Staalplaat, visit Staalplaat.com.
• To learn more about Soleilmoon, visit Soleilmoon.com.