Tag: Alko B

(2025 end-of-year lists) – PREFACES

Categories ChartsLeave a Comment on (2025 end-of-year lists) – PREFACES

As the year winds down, we asked every artist whose music Ruptured released in 2025 to share the records that stayed closest to them over the past months.

Published here over the coming days, these end-of-season charts gather the albums that accompanied writing, touring, waiting, and living through it all. 

PREFACES (Charif Megarbane, Salim Naffah, and Pascal Semerdjian)

(Charif’s picks)
Guess What – Solar Boats
Florence Adooni – AOEIU (An Ordinary Exercise in Unity)
Dana & Alden – Speedo
Sven Wunder – Daybreak
Stereolab – Instant Holograms on Metal Film

(Salim’s picks)
Snakeskin – We live in sand
Mac DeMarco – Guitar
Aviram – Drag Me Down
Charif Megarbane – Hawalat
SANAM – Sametou Sawtan

(Pascal’s picks)
Smote – Songs from the Free House
Sary Moussa – Wind, Again
Yo La Tengo – Old Joy (Original Soundtrack)
Geese – Getting Killed
Michel Maouad – Good Thing We Cleaned The Stairs

Ruptured Album Release // PREFACES // Acqua Marina

Categories NewsLeave a Comment on Ruptured Album Release // PREFACES // Acqua Marina

PREFACES RETURN WITH ‘ACQUA MARINA’ – A SUN-DRUNK, HAUNTED GUITAR ALBUM FOR OFF-SEASON BEACHES

Out 15 August 2025 via Ruptured and Hisstology

Beirut-based trio Prefaces return with Acqua Marina, a luminous and melancholic new album that conjures the empty beach clubs and concrete shorelines of Lebanon’s coastline. Out 15 August 2025 via Ruptured and Hisstology Records (vinyl + digital), the album marks the band’s second full-length release—following their 2021 debut Hippodrome.

Prefaces is composed of Charif Megarbane (Cosmic Analog Ensemble, Habibi Funk), Salim Naffah (Alko B), and Pascal Semerdjian (Postcards, SANAM)—three key players in Lebanon’s independent and experimental music scenes. On Acqua Marina, the trio distills elements of surf rock, Mediterranean psych, and vintage library music, while weaving in the modal turns and rhythms of the Levant.

Where Hippodrome emerged from a spirit of improvisation and spontaneity, Acqua Marina is more deliberate in tone and form. The album was recorded at Tunefork Studios in Beirut and shaped around recurring imagery: abandoned pools, tiled corridors, rusting gates, and the strange beauty of deserted resort towns. Lead single “Marmoura” captures that sensibility with reverb-laced guitar melodies and a gently hypnotic rhythm, drawing the listener into Prefaces’ submerged world.

Acqua Marina speaks in coastal dialects both real and imagined. Fans of Khruangbin, Allah-Las, Omar Khorshid, Ennio Morricone, or Megarbane’s own Cosmic Analog Ensemble will find plenty to explore in its currents.

The album is released on limited edition vinyl and digital formats, with artwork that mirrors the album’s themes of faded glamour and seasonal drift.

LISTEN / ORDER

Photo by Mohamad Al Rifai

Ziad Nawfal Guest Mix for Radio Ma3azef // 13 April 2022

Categories Music ShowsLeave a Comment on Ziad Nawfal Guest Mix for Radio Ma3azef // 13 April 2022

Ziad Nawfal’s monthly mix for Radio Ma3azef in Tunis, featuring artists from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq:

  1. Alko B [LB]
  2. Wake Island [LB]
  3. Loopstache [LB]
  4. Interbellum [LB]
  5. Ramly [LB]
  6. Filter Happier [LB]
  7. Sandmoon [LB]
  8. Alif [IQ/UK/EG/PS/LB]
  9. Kinematik [LB]
  10. Gurumiran [LB]
  11. Kid Fourteen [LB]
  12. Maurice Louca [EG]
  13. PanSTARRS [EG]
  14. Maryam Saleh + Zeid Hamdan [EG/LB]
  15. Rust [LB]
  16. Muqata’a [PS]

Ruptured Label Mix for Radio Alhara’s Sonic Liberation Front #freepalestine // 04 June 2021

Categories Music ShowsLeave a Comment on Ruptured Label Mix for Radio Alhara’s Sonic Liberation Front #freepalestine // 04 June 2021

Ruptured Records Label Mix [2011-2021] – For RADIO ALHARA’s Sonic Liberation Front series:

1. Alko B – Some Things [Ruptured Session]
2. Postcards – Flying Saucers [Ruptured Session]
3. Charlie Rayne – Disposable Valentine [Ruptured Session]
4. Safar – Wa Namshi
5. The Bunny Tylers – It Seems It All Disappears
6. Kinematik – Al-Qulub Al-Mughallafa Bet-Turab La Tankaser
7. Mme Chandelier – Minimal Potato
8. Jad Atoui – Impulse [Ruptured Session]
9. Radiokvm – Alpha Apparatus
10. TEDTEDTED – Cama
11. Munma – Muse
12. Stellar Banger [Pablo Giw, Ali Hout, Abed Kobeissy and Joss Turnbull] – Sextant
13. Two or The Dragon – Dance Grooves for The Weary [excerpt]
14. Aya Metwalli – Istana [Senyawa Rework]
15. Fadi Tabbal – Crystal Palace
16. El Rass & Munma – Sanadet
17. Kid Fourteen – The Dancer

Ziad Nawfal Guest Mix for Radio Alhara // 18 November 2020

Categories Music ShowsLeave a Comment on Ziad Nawfal Guest Mix for Radio Alhara // 18 November 2020

Ziad Nawfal’s monthly mix for Radio Alhara in Bethlehem – featuring music from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, France, Canada and the USA:

1. Alko B – Palm Tree in Cairo City [LB]
2. The Incompetents – Grey Midas [LB]
3. The Butcher’s Bride (Liliane Chlela & Hamed Sinno) – Lipsync [LB]
4. Faten Kanaan – Three Arches [US]
5. Fadi Tabbal – The New and Improved Guide to Birdwatching Vol.3 (Patricia Wolf Beatless Remix) [LB/US]
6. Al Nather – Su3ad [PS]
7. General Order 1 – Salve [LB]
8. Bikya – Sherif [EG]
9. Nadah el Shazly – Palmyra [EG]
10. Karkhana – Huli Huli [LB/EG/TR/US/CA]
11. Oiseaux-Tempête – Through the Speech of Stars (feat. Radwan Ghazi Moumneh) [FR/LB]

Ruptured Sessions Mix for Radio Alhara // 21 August 2020

Categories Music ShowsLeave a Comment on Ruptured Sessions Mix for Radio Alhara // 21 August 2020

Ziad Nawfal’s guest mix for Radio Alhara, featuring selections from all 6 volumes of “The Ruptured Sessions” [2008-2019]:

1. El Rass & Munma – Freestyle [2012]
2. Fareeq El Atrash – Njoom `Am Te’rab [2009]
3. The Incompetents – Cannibal Blues [2011]
4. Intensive Care – Another You [2010]
5. White Trees – The Game of Love [2010]
6. Charbel Haber – Building A Nest [2008]
7. Sandmoon – Dead of Jericho [2010]
8. Charlie Rayne – Madeleines [2013]
9. Postcards – Flying Saucers [2018]
10. Youmna Saba feat. Fadi Tabbal – Tehfi [2008]
11. Safar – Overlove [2015]
12. Alko B – Some Things [2019]
13. Cosmic Analog Ensemble – Early Embankment [2011]
14. The Wanton Bishops – Whoopy [2013]
15. Who Killed Bruce Lee – Pool Party [2013]
16. Mashrou’ Leila – Im Bimbillila7 [2009]
17. Kinematik – Lalochezia [2017]

Ruptured News // MUSIC RELIEF FOR BEIRUT #3: Ruptured Sessions Vol.6 + Tunefork Musicians’ Fund

Categories NewsLeave a Comment on Ruptured News // MUSIC RELIEF FOR BEIRUT #3: Ruptured Sessions Vol.6 + Tunefork Musicians’ Fund

In the aftermath of the August 4th explosion in Beirut, which left several hundred people dead, thousands injured, and resulted in city-wide material damage, several labels and platforms have started releasing compilations in support of the crisis.

The Ruptured Sessions Vol.6 is the latest iteration of Ziad Nawfal‘s series of live recordings in the studios of Radio Lebanon. Spanning a period of 10 years, this collection includes live versions of songs by Lebanese musicians Alko B, The Incompetents, Kinematik, Postcards, Safar, The Wanton Bishops, Who Killed Bruce Lee, and Youmna Saba, as well as previously unreleased tracks by Charlie Rayne, Cosmic Analog Ensemble, and El Rass & Munma.

All Bandcamp sales from this release will be forwarded to Tunefork Studios‘ Beirut Musicians’ Fund, aimed at providing relief to musicians impacted by the deadly blast of August 4th. The fund will replace musicians’ damaged recording equipment, instruments and various music gear.

Buy The Ruptured Sessions Vol.6 here.
Read Scene Noise‘s review here.
Donate to Beirut Musicians’ Fund here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruptures Radio Show // 21 October 2019

Categories Music ShowsLeave a Comment on Ruptures Radio Show // 21 October 2019

Broadcast from “Ruptures” [Radio Lebanon 96.2FM] featuring artists from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Egypt:

1. El Rass & Munma – Batalkon met [2019]
2. Zalfa – Ma sar [2019]
3. Postcards – Fossilized [2019]
4. Kozo – Hiroshima peace memorial [2019]
5. Sandmoon – Fiery O [2019]
6. Pól – We run [2019]
7. Blue Comme Moi – Pro sol [2019]
8. Alko B – Some things [2019]
9. Zeid Hamdan, Tanjaret Daghet + Elmorabba3 – Zekrayat [2019]
10. Bord – Shadows [Sofar Sounds session, Aug. 2018]
11. Frida – Ya sadiqi [2019]
12. Maurice Louca – Al Khawaga [2018]
13. Kamilya Jubran & Werner Hasler – Tumbleweed 1 [2019]
14. Muqataa – Faltakon [2018]
15. Stress Distress – It’s the same exit + Mariatorget [2019]
16. Marc Codsi – Invocation I [2019]

ALKO B // 2nd Ruptured Session // 05 August 2019

Categories Live On AirLeave a Comment on ALKO B // 2nd Ruptured Session // 05 August 2019

Lebanese musician Salim Naffah aka ALKO B was the guest of Ruptures on Radio Liban 96.2 FM, for an interview revolving around the making and production of his second solo album “Dreaming Is Not For Two”. Alko B performed several songs from his new album in the studio, accompanied by Fadi Tabbal from Tunefork Studios on live sound duties. Photos by Ziad Nawfal.

Listen:

Track listing:
1. Alko B
2. M. Ward
3. The Ventures
4. Timber Timbre
5. Bobby Vinton
6. Alko B LIVE *2
7. Martin Rev
8. Alko B LIVE *2
9. The Beach Boys
10. Alko B LIVE
11. Alko B

Ruptures Radio Show // January 2019

Categories Music ShowsLeave a Comment on Ruptures Radio Show // January 2019

Featuring artists from Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey and the USA:

1. Alko B – Elephant In The Room [Ruptured Session]
2. Cosmic Analog Ensemble – Phoenician Rose
3. Al Rajul Al Hadidi – Qossat Al Tapline
4. Hadi Zeidan – Taksim Juno & 808
5. Dabaka – Ya Nass
6. Maurice Louca – One More For The Gutter
7. Karkhana & Nadah el Shazly – Enlevez les trottoirs, je n’ai plus nulle part où me rendre
8. Nadah el Shazly – Afqid Adh-Dhakira
9. Zeid Hamdan & Maii Waleed – Ehdefni
10 Muqataa – Marj Ibn Amer
11. Ziad Qoulaii Allstars – Mystique
12. Jerusalem In My Heart – Bein Ithnein
13. Kid Fourteen – Can You Be More Concerned
14. The Bunny Tylers – I’ll Make It Up To You
15. Calamita – FTC