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First-time vinyl reissue of Fairuz’s classic 1987 album interpreting songs by the legendary Rahbani Brothers. Featuring original gatefold artwork, remastered audio and new liner notes.

WeWantSounds is delighted to reissue Fairuz's classic album Chat Iskandaria originally released on Relax-in in 1987. The album sees The Lebanese Diva going back to her roots and interpreting classic songs by the Rahbani Brothers in her own style accompanied by hypnotic traditional orchestral arrangements.

Coming with its original deluxe gatefold sleeve, The album - curated by Mario Choueiry from Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris), who also wrote the liner notes (Fr/En) - has been newly remastered by Colorsound Studio in Paris. — (via Label)

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A first ever international vinyl edition of a golden era Arab world classic revolving the legendary singer interpreting songs by her long time collaborators, the equally renowned Rahbani Brothers - including ex-husband Assi - and set to lavish yet delicate string arrangements, as originally issued in Lebanon, ’87 - now with new liner notes by Mario Choueiry of Institut du Monde Arabe.

Chat Iskandaria portrays the Lebanese diva some 30 years into an illustrious oeuvre that would become a byword for sophisticated Arab-world pop, singing in a highly distinctive timbre about life, love and nostalgia for country life, or the old world, but with a modern sheen. It was originally recorded for the Relax-In label at the Baalbeck Studios related to the annual international festival in the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon, where she was often among the biggest attractions. 

Nearly a decade since splitting with creative and romantic partner Assi Rahbani - who, along with sibling Mansour, was behind much of Fairuz’s music between the ‘50s and ‘70s - Fairuz would return to their songbook and more traditional orchestral arrangements on this album, an attractive showcase for her melismatic flights variously spanning the luxury groove-driven title piece and intricate drums of ‘Ya Zairi Fi Al Douha’, forlorn feel of ‘Ams Intahayna’, elegant folk dance style of ‘Sayed Al Hawa’, and sweep-off-your-feet finale ‘Najmat Al Koutoub.’ — (via Boomkat)

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Label: WeWantSounds 
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Reissued: 2025 / Original: 1987
Genre: Folk, Lebanese

File under: Global Sounds
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