Album Notes

Raz Mesinai in his first outing using both of his monikers (Badawi & Raz Mesinai) has created a politically charged masterpiece. Unit of Resistance is already being heralded on the internet as one of the best RPM albums of 2007. With over 10K advance downloads on Myspace, this is sure to capture both the minds of today’s youth and to stir the passions of the electronic intelligentsia.

“Unit Of Resistance” is a collaboration between a handful of NYC musicians (laying down tracks of protest in 2004) and a selection of international DJ’s and mixers interpreting these tracks two years later. The story of how this unusual collaboration came together is written about in the liner notes and made even more captivating by the accompanying music. After over a year of international touring Raz found a handful of DJ’s/Musicians to take the music created that one fateful day and to create their own unique tracks. Raz set up a sophisticated web of information via the internet to allow the mixers access to prima material and to do with it as they wished. Perhaps the end result is conspiratorial music raising a lone flag or perhaps it is many different flags being raised jointly. Power to the people.

Chapter One- from album notes-
In 2004 the Republican National Convention descended upon New York City’s Madison Square Garden in a campaign to reelect George W. Bush for a second term. It was a highly emotional day in New York City, the air was filled with intensity, and the stench of rage was all around. Through demonstrations the population of New York (in the most part defying the Bush administration) were allowed to express themselves. However my approach was a different one. I decided to experiment in a little bit of sound alchemy. Booking a studio a few blocks from the convention I brought in some of the most powerful musicians I’ve had the honor of playing with in my Badawi Quintet. Jim Black (drums), Shahzad Ismaily (bass, percussion), Doug Wieselman (clarinet), and Okkyung Lee (cello). We recorded for ten hours, focusing on our feelings of rage and hopelessness, and combining them with hope, defiance and anarchy.

Along with DJ Spooky, DJ Olive, Soulslinger & Wordsound I Powa, Raz is considered an integral member of NYC’s Academy of Underground DJ’s and founded the influential duo Sub Dub with John Ward. Raz/Badawi has released more than 15 albums on ROIR, Asphodel, Instinct, BSI, & John Zorn’s Tzadik imprint.

“…a musical master and a force to be reckoned with.”—Global Rhythm