Syriana - Ten Days in Bilad Al ShamMuch more than an 'East meets West' musical fusion project, Syriana are three friends who came together in creative protest pre-President Obama.

Nick Page (Real World regular, Trans Global Underground member and Dub Colossus mastermind), Abdullah Chhadeh (Syrian qanun virtuoso and musical innovator) and Irish born Bernard O’Neill (another Real World regular and in demand musician) are the three distinctive artists behind Syriana.

“We thought a new Cold War was being foisted upon the world,” says Page, “the Cold War and its iconography had divided East and West. We wanted to bridge it.”

Recorded at Chaddeh’s London base in Walthamstow and at Real World Studios in Box, the music was already a genre-defying mixture of Americana via Dick Dale and the traditional sonorous sound of the ancient 81 srting Arabic dulcimer, the qanun, but it was a 10 trip to Damascus that sealed its unique sound.

Ten Days in Bilad Al Sham is the stunning album for this months Society of  Sound members. Available in all three formats including, 24bit FLAC, it really is unlike anything else we’ve heard and would very much like to hear what you think.

Next month we’re very excited to be teaming up with critically acclaimed Los Angeles-based Cambodian American rock band Dengue Fever, the group Mojo called “The world’s premier Cambodian psychedelic rock band” and the Los Angeles Times call “the most original pop band in LA.”

Dengue Fever will be releasing a fantastic live and studio recorded album which will be available for Society of Sound members to download for one month from June 24th. All the tracks from this incredible album were, of course, recorded at Real World Studios and are available as glorious high quality lossless digital downloads.

Right now you can get at taste of their inspiring sound by downloading an exclusive sample track, Tiger Phonecard, courtesy of Society of Sound. Click ALAC (if you are using iTunes) or FLAC if using another music player to simply download and enjoy.

Multi-talented as well as multi-cultural, Dengue Fever will be returning to Europe in June to promote the fascinating new documentary Sleepwalking Through The Mekong.

The release of their Society of Sound album will also coincide with several European tour dates, including:

Wednesday 17th June 2009:  In-store live performance at Pure Groove record shop/gallery space, 6.30pm

6-7 West Smithfield, Farringdon, London, EC1A 9JX

Thursday 18 June 2009, The Scala, London with Don Letts.

Time: 7.30pm

Admission: £13.50, tickets from Ticketweb: 08700 600 100.

For more confirmed tour dates across Europe visit www.myspace.com/denguefevermusic.

Every year arguably the loveliest city in the UK hosts 16 days of the world’s best music.

This year the 2009 Bath International Music Festival runs from the 22nd May – 6th June.

With guests ranging from the Branford Marsalis Quartet to Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys, the Festival always offers some stunning performances and many suprises. The Guardian’s Festival Guide describes it as an “epic 16-day feast of jazz, classical, world and folk music.”

Society of Sound artists Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara are playing the Festival’s Closing Night Party on the 6th June. Their latest album, Tell No Lies,  was released today and has earned 5 stars in a Guardian review: “songs that echo the raw exuberance of the Clash, the rolling blues of Muddy Waters and the delicacy and grandeur of the ancient griot ballads…Magnificent.”

We have two pairs of tickets for you to win. Simply tell us why you want them here no later than 31st May.

Society of Sound artists Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara play live at London’s Jazz Cafe on Wednesday May 13th and we have 5 pairs of tickets to give away.  Simply comment below and tell us why you want them.

Justin Adams (Robert Plant, Jah Wobble) has been described by the Guardian as “one of the most intriguing, enthusiastic musicians in Britain” and recorded Afrobilly Sessions for Society of Sound with Gambian griot and master of the riti, Juldeh Camara.

Uncut gives this follow up to 2007′s award-winning Soul Science album 4 stars and describes the music as “some of the deepest trance-blues this side of Timbuktu.”

They are well worth checking out.

Justin Adams (Robert Plant, Jah Wobble) has been described by the Guardian as “one of the most intriguing, enthusiastic musicians in Britain” and together with Gambian griot and master of the ritti, Juldeh Camara, has recorded a follow-up to their critically acclaimed album “Soul Science” which won a BBC Radio 3 World Music Award.

Mixing up raw blues, electric guitar and African roots, the reference points for this release are recordings from the 1950s by the likes of Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters.

To acheive the rawness and slight distortion meant a live feel was very important, Justin decribes the recording process: “The way we’ve gone for that is to record in a very live way in the Wooden Room at Real World Studios. You’ll hear the sweat and blood of the live performance, and all the scratchy bits!”.

With all B&W Music Club albums, we try and bring you something different and very special and would love to know what you think of it.