Dubai Media City's first ever music album released

ABU DHABI, Jan 6, 2002 (WAM) --Oryx, the first-ever music album to be produced by the Dubai Media City (DMC) community, was released yesterday. The album, offering an unique blend of Arabic and Western musical traditions, was unveiled by global music company EMI Music at the DMC, reports in the UAE's dailie said. Brought out by Creative Music Production (CMP) and established by Palestinian Bashar Abd' Rabbou and German Dirk Heibel, two maverick musicians who met in Dubai and pooled their resources to realise their common musical vision, the album is a dazzling fusion experiment with over 75 minutes of chill-out grooves, ambient club sounds and an exotic dance rendition of the legendary Farid El Attrache's Hebrina and the spiritual lounge tribute to Gibran Khalil Gibran by Hasna. The title of the album is a symbolic representation of the universal appeal that the new album's music has sought to create with the cover featuring a beautiful silver Oryx, images that have been created by another Dubai Media City company, Propeller. Oryx is an open project featuring several artists and talented young musicians whom Abd' Rabbou and Heibel met in Dubai while making the album. It voices expressions from different musical cultures and styles, with the different sounds flowing together into a harmonious montage. This includes Bashar's own music, combining the latest dance styles with Arabic chants, melodies and rhythms and Dirk's emotionally-rich music that fuses with chilled-out grooves and ambient pads with Arabic instruments. Some of the highlights of the album include Leish Leish Ya Jarra, a funky remix of a very popular old hit featuring the original duo artists and May and Waheed, Hebbina, a majestic and exotic dance rendition of the legendary Farid Al Attrache classic and Gibran's Wisdom, an evocative musical interpretation of some of Khalil Gibran's poetry by popular Moroccan artist Hasna. "Abd' Rabbou and Heibel have created an enthralling ensemble that transcends cultural barriers and sensibilities," said Abdulhamid Juma, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Media City. "The bold creativity of Oryx will serve as an inspiration for more musical ventures. In many ways, Oryx represents the culturally diverse spirit of the Media City," he explained. "Creations like Oryx will go a long way in enriching the musical scene in Dubai and the region," said Bashar Sultan, Sales and Marketing Manager for EMI Music. WAM-VV