Suns of Arqa

Digital Release - Arka Sound
The 'Pressure Drop' album celebrates the great unsung stalwart of '70s reggae, the great Lizard Logan, who is the backbone bass line of those seminal LPs 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Seven', 'India', 'Ark of the Arqans' and Creation Rebel. He was a joy to work with our early forays into Germany and the Netherlands. 

Lizard was very reluctant to sing, so we are very lucky to have these classic tunes by Prince Buster, Toots and the Maytals, Jolly Brothers and Meditations.... with his sweet voice, and of course, those fabulous bass lines.....!

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Digital Release - Arka Sound
'The Space Mountain Sessions' album contains live recordings of Suns of Arqa from the Space Mountain Festival in Granada, Spain in October 2017.  The album features six tracks, two of which are remixed versions by Kuba.

The line-up consists of Wadada, Angel Eye, Tim Wheater, Nik Turner (Hawkwind), Ned & Maff Scott (The Egg), Ronan Browne, Craig Waller, Basuri and Oren Kaplan.  A video featuring two of the tracks, 'Once Long Ago' and 'One Is Many' was released on YouTube on the same day as the album release.

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12" Single - Emotional Rescue
'Acid Tabla' is a single with four tracks, including a new 6-minute 12" version of the title track as the main feature.  Featuring Wadada, Style Scott, Lizard Logan, Kalu Zeria, Aziz Zeria, Big Red, I Green, Bubblers and Chris Joyce, this classic Suns of Arqa track also receives extended remix treatment from Adrian Sherwood.

The B-Side of the single is 'Asian Rebel', which was previously released only on a compilation LP 'Wild Party Sounds' in 1981.  The single closes with a dub mix of 'Asian Rebel' by Brian Hyphen, taking it deeper and further into the dub chamber.

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Digital Release - Arka Sound
'City of Nine Gates' is a 2-track single featuring a new version of the Suns of Arqa classic 'City of Nine Gates', remixed by Brian Hyphen.  The original version of 'City of Nine Gates' goes all the way back to 1983 when it appeared on the second Suns of Arqa album 'Wadada Magic', and features Wadada and Prince Far-I on vocals. 

The B-side is an extended version of 'Hanuman from the Underworld', also mixed by Brian Hyphen, which features Angel Eye and Wadada on vocals and guitar.

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Digital Release - Arka Sound
Spiritual Sanity in an Insane Society, and Other Rarities Vol 7' is a collection of new tracks, mixes, and rarities.  The album runs to about 90 minutes and opens with new track 'Babylondon's Burning'.

There is also a live performance featuring the legendary Marcel King, many rare tracks from long-unavailable Suns of Arqa LPs, two versions of the song 'Soul To Save' which was origianlly released on a 7'' back in 1980, the non-album track 'Heart Of The Suns' from 1995, and a previously unreleased song 'One Is Many' from the 1980s.

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CD - Tracks and Traces
'Wadada' features a storming radio-friendly mix of 'All Along The Watchtower' from the hand of legendary producer John Leckie (Stone Roses, Radiohead).  'Maybe You're A Rich Man' features George Harrison's shenai maestro Kadir Durvesh.  Wadada had to personally sing this song to Sir Paul McCartney, to ask permission to record it, Paul said "cool".

The digital version of the album is a 4-track EP, however the CD version includes several additional bonus tracks including a live rendition of 'Shambo Shanka', and a John Leckie mix of 'Misra Bilawal'

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Digital Release - Liquid Sound Design
'All Is Not Lost, All Is Dub' is a follow-up album of ambient dub remixes released later in the year after its counterpart 'All is Not Lost, But Where Is It?'.  The track listing is similar to the earlier album, however each track is remixed by a different artist.

Remixes are provided by an impressive blend of old school psychedelic dub legends and new school dubbers, including Total Eclipse, Saafi Brothers, Kukan Dub Lagan, TOR.MA, Kuba, Eat Static and Youth. 

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CD - Liquid Sound Design
'All Is Not Lost, But Where Is It?' features The Orb, Raja Ram and Youth and brings the listener on a journey through an hour of psychedelic dub and ambient chill.  'Mother Tongue' opens the album with a slow introduction culminating in a strong dub rhythm.

The album continues with hypnotic waves of sitar, bamboo flute, strings, dub mixing and tribal drumming.  'The Truth Lies Therein' features Manchester poet John Cooper-Clarke, and the album closes with 'Pablo's Lament', combining vocals with harmonica and reggae vibes.

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LP - Emotional Rescue
'Remixs' is a limited edition re-issue LP containing a selection of the glitch / broken beat / acid mixes of Suns of Arqa by Muslimgauze Bryn Jones in the 1990s.

Edited, resequenced and remastered especially for this vinyl reissue release by Emotional Rescue, 'Remixs' had 515 copies screen printed by House of Traps - 250 Blue and Red and 250 Brown and Red, plus 15 Brown and Gold hand painted versions!

Digital Release - Arka Sound
'Live at Band On The Wall' was recorded in January 2013, and features a full-length and full-on Suns of Arqa performance to an enthusiastic crowd in Manchester, England.  The album closes with a bonus track 'Surf My Soul'.

Featuring ten tracks including live favourites such as 'Pablo's Lament', 'Beyond The Beyond', 'Judgment Day' and 'Pure Reality', this essential live album is a powerful document of the live Suns of Arqa experience.

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CD (EP) - Interchill Canada
'Ancient Temples' features mixes from legends Youth, Gaudi, Astralasia and Gagarin, features Style Scott on drums, and mixes dub, mysticism and bass into an enchanting blend.  The EP was recorded in Cape Town, South Africa.

Gaudi's mix reflects his reggae roots with a one drop rhythm, proper bass and signature Moog lines.  Astralasia's mix really allows the lyrical sentiment to shine through and features some magical fiddle playing from Olivia Moore that introduces Celtic reel vibes to the mix.  'Pablo's Lament' is a departure into Youth's deep multi-layered psychedelia and dub.  The EP closes with 'The Truth Will Set You Free', mixed by Gagarin and featuring vocals from Angel Eye, it has a dub mantra quality to it, bass from Skip MacDonald (Little Axe), with a memorable vocal like a mystical lullaby.

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CD & DVD - Arka Sound
'Stranger Music' features Angel Eye on vocals, Muslimgauze Bryn Jones on rhythm, Johar Ali Khan on violin, and more.  The album is a reinterpretation of Leonard Cohen, fusing Suns of Arqa's signature world beat elements, tight electronica and dub, with Cohen's excellent lyrics.

The CD version comes with an additional bonus DVD containing twelve tracks, including live Suns of Arqa performances from Glastonbury, Big Chill, Wiltshire and Manchester.

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12" Single - Emotional Rescue
Classic Suns of Arqa track 'Brujo Magic' sees Prince Far-I laying down his inimitable vocal style over a driving disco-dub groove.  This version has a drum and bass rhythm with more punch and groove than the original album version from 1983, and has been remixed, extended and remastered.

Backed with what has become something of a Balearic gem for many underground DJs, Ananta Snake Dance appears here in its original long format, from the album 'Revenge of the Mozabites'.

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CD - Interchill Canada
'Know Thyself' is an ambient album comprised of four rarely heard Indian ragas.  It was produced by Wadada at Studio Subhash in Mumbai, India, and features the bansuri master Raghunath Seth. 

The bansuri (made of bamboo) has a melodic, emotive quality that is older than time, and the arrangements of these selections are modern and ambient.  There are traces of electronica as the flute weaves through the ragas.  The cover photo and dedication are to Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, the Indian founder of Sahaja Yoga, who passed away shortly after the album's release.

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CD - LSD Dragonfly
'Scared Sacred' sees Wadada carving a new path in the evolution of Dub, drawing from the melodies of classical Indian Raga and countless other ethnic influences and draping them over bass-heavy rhythms and euphoric soundscapes.  In an age of incoherent albums designed to be 'cherry picked', this is an engulfing musical journey, rewarding the listener with almost seamless transitions between rich atmospherics and driven, uplifting beats.

'Scared Sacred' also features long-time Suns of Arqa collaborators Youth on synth, guitar and percussion, and Raghunath Seth on bansuri.

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2CD (Mixed) - Arka Sound
'Through The Gate We Go' is a double album, compiled by TomFu (Liquid Records), who has been a very well respected DJ in the UK downtempo and ethnic scene for many years.  The album contains a mixture of the sounds which span and define Suns of Arqa's career up to this point, all seamlessly blended into a globetrotting safari of eclectic musical fusions and collusions.

'Through The Gate We Go' is truly a journey, best listened to from start to finish, that will take you to a place far removed from the stresses of your current latitude, longitude, and elevation.  Soothe your mind and lull into the energy of musical gifts from ancient cultures for the modern time.

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CD (Limited) - Soleilmoon Recordings
A limited edition expanded and repackaged version of the Muslim Gauze album, this release includes longer versions of some tracks, plus additional tracks that were not on the original release.

The album is comprised of Suns of Arqa tracks remixed by the late Bryn Jones, in November 1996 in an experimental dub / glitch style.  All tracks have been remastered since the original release, and the CD is packaged within a square black folder made of sugar cane fibers. The folder itself is covered with a translucent vellum over-wrap with the release title silk-screened onto it.

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DVD - Arka Sound
'Hindu Pict' is the first Suns of Arqa DVD, and contains a wide range of live performances, videos, TV appearances and interviews.

The DVD is an epic compilation of tracks which tell the history of Wadada's journey, starting in 1979 when he recorded his first studio album with the Dub Mix Master Adrian Sherwood.  Featuring rare footage of Suns Of Arqa's live debut at the very first Womad Festival, to their more recent performance at the Glastonbury Festival.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Big and Live' was recorded 100% live, with no overdubs added - with the exception of the three extra bonus tracks featuring the legendary Jamaican Toaster Prince Far-I, remixed by Nucleus Roots and Rick The Switch.  There are 12 tracks in all, and the unique vocals of Angel Eye are complimented by guest appearances from the great dhrupad singer Reba Bhaduri, and Cat Von Trapp.

'Big and Live' is a return to the full organic sound of 70s dub, mixed with Hindustani 'magic' music.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Hallucinasia' was produced by Wadada and the Reverse Brothers.  The album was recorded in three locations - Mumbai, New Delhi and Thessalonika. 

'Hallucinasia' features Raghunath Seth on bamboo flute, Durga on tabla, Johar Ali on Violin, and Wadada on Guitar.  Gita Sparkle provides vocals on the opening track, which is remixed by DJ Guapo.

The final track on the album, 'Raga Raghunath', is a remix by Graham Massey (808 State) who has previously remixed other work for Suns of Arqa.

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Digital Release - Arka Sound
'Unplugged in Exeter' was recorded in May 2004 at the Phoenix, Exeter, England.  The album contains six hypnotic unplugged pieces featuring Michael Wadada on sitar, Sanyogita Kumari on vocals, Iqbal Ray on harmonium, Pritam Singh on tabla, and Marek Miczyk on Violin.

A unique concert featuring long-time Suns of Arqa performers, 'Unplugged in Exeter' is a very special unplugged performance of music you will not hear elsewhere.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Tributey' is a tribute to the late Professor Stanley Unwin.  Stanley Unwin and Suns of Arqa have been making music together since 1983 and this release contains all of their tracks together, along with an interview he did for BBC Radio about his involvement with Suns of Arqa.

The last thing he recorded, just before his passing early in 2002, 'Troglodytes of Mars' was finished and presented on Tributey, along with several new mixes of previous material.  In addition, the album features a version of Tomorrow Never Knows, written by Stanley's long time fan, John Lennon.  Sit back and enjoy Professor Stanley Unwin.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Magiczna Miłość' (Magical Love) was recorded after a successful tour of Poland in 2002 and the vocals are mainly in Polish.  The drummer on both the title track and 'Muzyka Cię Wchłania Muzyka Czaruje' is Damon Reece, ex-drummer with Spiritualised and creator of drum loops for Massive Attack and Goldfrapp.  The mix of City of Nine Gates was produced by Andrew Weatherall.

Agnieszka Jablonska is the brilliant vocalist on most of the album.  Kayah provides vocals too on 'Higher Kaya'.  The CD version also contains three bonus tracks from the long deleted LP 'Wadada Magic'.

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CD - Arka Sound
Originally released ten years earlier, 'Cradle' was re-recorded in 2002 and re-released as a five-part album.  It features the original line-up from the 1992 Cradle album with Tim Wheater on flute, Kadir Durvesh on shenai, Wadada on sitar, guitar and keyboard, and Marek Miczyk on violin.  This new version also includes Sahbaz Hussain on tabla, and was mixed by Pete Rawson in Scotland.

'Cradle' is an album of meditative Indian trance.  Pure melody performed on shenai, flute, violin and keyboard produces a musical meditation. The spiritual message of the Arqans is simple - you can reach the inner self through music, and when you reach the inner self, you reach the eternal.

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CD - Arka Sound
Originally released on LP in 1987, 'Seven' creates a hybrid of Christian and Hindu mysticism layered with alchemy.  It combines Gabriel Faure's Requiem mass with early rumblings of Dub Step, Hindustani Ragas and Nyabinghi Dub Poetry.

The conceptual story line features an impressive cast on the Arqa stage with John Cooper-Clarke as Ezekiel, Professor Stanley Unwin as Erasmus, Helen Watson as the Maid of Orleans, Sanyogita Kumari and Sarah Wildwitch as the Celtic sisters of Wyrd and Kadir Durvesh as Kali the Destroyer.

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2CD - EMI Records
'Solar Activity' is a double album containing 25 tracks, covering 22 years of Suns Of Arqa.  This collection contains many classics as well as a few surprises from the deep and varied catalogue, and is the definitive Suns of Arqa double album retrospective.

Featuring tracks produced by masters such as Adrian Sherwood and The Orb, a cover version of The Beatles' track 'Tomorrow Never Knows', and even a track inspired by a selection of Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, the varied styles of Suns of Arqa are all here in digitally remastered form for an immersive playlist of experimental worldbeat fusion, Asian underground, and avant dub.

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12" Promo Remix Sampler - EMI Records
'Tomorrow Never Knows' is a promotional single produced by EMI to promote the 'Solar Activity' compilation due for release the following May.  While 'Solar Activity' contained a remix of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by Rick the Switch, this 12" single actually featured two different remixes by UK producers Chicken Lips, the second mix being a dub version of the first.

There is also a third track featured here, a new Suns of Arqa track 'Children Of Jumma' which is remixed here by The Orb.

CD - EMI Records
'Un1verse City' is based on the classical Indian raga system (scale patterns and melodic motifs), embellished with influences from reggae, dance beats, dub and ambient sounds. It was produced by Wadada and Laszlo Hortobãgyi at the Gãyan Uttejak Studio in Budapest, Hungary.  The Indian raga compositions are complimented by the Tibetan vocals of Geshela Ngagang Sherap.

'Un1verse City' features shenai performed by Kadir Durvesh, and sarangi played by Magriel - both who have recorded with Suns of Arqa for many years.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Govinda's House in the City of Nine Gates' is a collection of remixed versions of the title track which made its first appearance on the album 'Seven', and shortly after as a 12" single.  This original 12" version is also included here.  Although all remixes are of Govinda, they vary significantly at a musical level, making this a solid 75-minute journey of dub, dance and depth, with haunting vocals from Sanyogita Kumari and Jamaican legend Prince Far-I.

The album features a mix by The Orb, another by Graham Massey (808 State), and three different mixes by A Guy Called Gerald.  Remixes are also provided by Astralasia, Zion Train, Sounds From The Ground, Zombie and Kopeikin.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Aberglaube' is sub-titled 'Remixes Vol 3' and is a continuous mix of creative and wildly differing remixes.  A refreshing mixture of well known names and a few new faces makes for an intriguing listen from start to finish.

Finlay Quaye appears on the closing track 'Rosewood Casket', and the album also features appearances from John Cooper-Clarke, Country Rankin, Johar Ali Khan, Nicolas Magriel, John Snelson and Tim Wheater alongside Angel Eye and Wadada.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Muslim Gauze' is an album comprised of Suns of Arqa tracks remixed by the late Bryn Jones, in November 1996. 

"I met Bryn (Muslim Gauze) Jones a long time ago, when I was living in Ashton-under-Lyne.  He came around to my house with a guy from Tokyo called Noddy, who was releasing his music in Japan and suggested we do an album together.  They went away that day with copies of recordings I had been working on.  These are the mixes he did, I never saw him again." - Wadada

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CD - Techno Party
'Technomor', which is sub-titled 'Remixes Vol 4', is an album featuring new mixes and tracks, blended into an hour of hypnotic trance crossing a variety of genres.  Remixers on the album include legendary producers John Leckie and Youth.  There are also mixes from László Hortobágyi (Gāyan Uttejak Orchestra), Pete Rawson ('Raw Pete'), Astralasia, Zion Train, Rick the Switch, CND, and Bleep & Booster.

Raghunath Seth appears on bansuri, Johar Ali on violin, John Snelson on bagpipes, Tim Wheater on flute, Dhevdhas Nair on santoor, Shahbaz Hussain & Kalu Zeria on tablas, Lyne Okey on guitar, Shaun Davis on bass, Angel Eye on tampura & drones, and Wadada on bass.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Suns of Arqa meet the Gāyan Uttejak Orchestra' is a collaboration between Wadada and Hungarian composer and ethno-musicologist Lâszlô Hortobâgyi.  The album was mostly arranged and mixed at the Gāyan Uttejak Studio in Budapest, apart from 'The Sky Shall Vanish' (featuring John Cooper-Clarke) and 'Sostenuto' which was arranged & mixed on the Arka Sound Mobile, in Inverness, Scotland.

'SOA meet the Gāyan Uttejak Orchestra' also features the voice of Professor Stanley Unwin on the final two tracks, the latter of which was remixed at Redwood Recordings in the Highlands of Scotland.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Cosmic Jugalbandi' is woven around a jugalbandi (duet) between Raghunath Seth on bamboo flute and Johar Ali Khan on violin.  It features material from five traditional ragas, and each track begins with the flute and/or violin's traditional arrhythmic exposition of the raga's scale.  This is then complimented by dark, melodic reggae basslines and dubbed-up trap drums.

'Cosmic Jugalbandi' closes with a heavily dub-oriented mix by Youth. A must for fans of the Asian Underground scene, modern bhangra, jungle, or experimental dub.

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2CD (Mixed) - Echo Beach
'Remixes Vol 2 & 3' is a double album containing a wide variety of Suns of Arqa remixes, featuring contributions from A Guy Called Gerald, 808 State, Youth, Muslimgauze, Royal-T, Zion Train, Sounds From The Ground and more.  There are also appearances from Finlay Quaye and John Cooper Clarke.

Each disc is a continuous mix - and all mixes on the second disc are versions of Govinda's Dream / Govinda's House.  Both discs were re-released separately a few years later, in the form of 'Aberglaube' and 'Govinda's House in the City of Nine Gates'.

CD - Arka Sound
'A Brief History of SOA' is a retrospective album which serves as an introduction to Suns Of Arqa, or simply a great playlist covering some of the many and varied styles.  This album reflects very well the diversity of Suns Of Arqa's music, and emphasises the commitment to style and spirituality that has been there from the early beginnings in 1979. 

The track 'GD Magick' is taken from the rare 12" EP released in 1983 with Prince Far-I, and this is the only appearance of this track on CD.  The album also includes edited versions of music from Jaggernaut, Kokoromochi, Shabda, Cradle, Seven, as well as two live recordings.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Animan' is a pure live album - no tapes or samples, just 100% live performances from Switzerland, Germany, France and England, and include some newer tracks from Shabda as well as older tracks such as 'Les Anciens Mystiques' from 'Seven'.

Long-time Suns of Arqa performers Kadir Durvesh, Johar Ali, Marek Miczyk and Sticksman appear alongside Wadada and Angel, plus several other musicians from around the world, to create a truly unique live album documenting this crucial period in Suns of Arqa's history.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Total Eclipse of the Suns', which is subtitled 'Remixes 1979-1995', is the first remix album by Suns of Arqa, and contains remixed versions of tracks from previous albums, two of which go all the way back to the 1979 debut album 'Revenge of the Mozabites'.

Remixers on the album include Adrian Sherwood, Youth, Greg Hunter, Astralasia, Bleep & Booster, United Spirits of Rhythm, and Yam Yam.  'Total Eclipse' also contains two previously unreleased tracks by Zombie.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Shabda' features an eclectic lineup - Johar Ali from New Delhi on violin, John Snelson on highland bagpipes, Sticksman on drums, tabla maestros Kalu and Sandeep, Wayne Worm on bass, Country Rankin & Angel-Eye on Vocals and Wadada on sitar, bass, guitar & vocals.

'Shabda' also features special guest dhrupad musicians Reba and Sumit, among others. This is the some of the most interesting dub/world/raga/reggae/dance music in the world.

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12" Single - Arka Sound
This single of 'Govinda's Dream' contains two of the best remixes of 'Govinda', the first of which is done by United Spirits of Rhythm - this mix also appears on the first Suns of Arqa remix album 'Total Eclipse of the Suns'.

The B-Side mix is by Manchester native A Guy Called Gerald, a record producer and musician who has spawned genres and generations of music culture.  This mix is notable for his trademark drum & bass style, as he offers a truly unique take on this Suns of Arqa classic.

CD Maxi - Arka Sound
'Erasmus Meets The Earthling' is a single which features a remixed version of the title track, the original of which first appeared on the album 'Seven'.  Phil Kirby is the remixer in this case, and offers a stripped-back, dub mix which places a much stronger emphasis on the voice of the legendary comedian Professor Stanley Unwin, who provides vocals on the track.

The single includes four other tracks, the first three of which are remixed from the 'Jaggernaut Whirling Dub' album.  The final track again sees Phil Kirby at the helm, with his remix of 'What Does It Profit?'.

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12" Promo Single - Arka Sound
'DJ Files' is a promotional single containing four tracks, the first three of which are remixed from the 'Jaggernaut Whirling Dub' album.  These three tracks are titled Whirling Dub, Whirling Full and Whirling Forest, and are remixed by Youth and Greg Hunter.

The final track is a remix by Phil Kirby, of the track 'What Does It Profit?' which first appeared on the CD version of the album Alap-Joe-Jhala.  The 12" was never released commercially, however the tracks can all be found on the 'Erasmus Meets The Earthling' CD released later in the year.

CD - Arka Sound
Released in 1994 but recorded in 1982, 'Live With Prince Far-I' features the great Prince Far-I performing his last ever gig with Suns of Arqa, before he was shot and killed upon his return to Kingston, Jamaica. This is a legendary live recording from Band On The Wall, Manchester, with Prince Far-I's reggaeton vocal delivery like growling thunder, taking centre stage on many tracks - and is completely engrossing.

The Digital Album opens with a remix of 'City of Nine Gates' featuring Prince Far-I's vocals, and the remainder of the album is from the concert.  The CD version includes several bonus tracks including a session for Radio Lancashire.

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CD Maxi - Arka Sound
'Govinda's Dream' contains several different remixes of 'Govinda', by A Guy Called Gerald, Graham Massey, Astralasia and Phil Kirby.  It was the first CD single released by Suns of Arqa, runs to 36 minutes, and features a painting by Wadada as the sleeve.

The CD Maxi opens with Astralasia's epic 10-minute remix, which begins with an excellent 3-minute long ambient introduction.  The mixes by A Guy Called Gerald feature speaker-rattling bass and drum & bass elements for which he is so widely known.

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12", CD Maxi, Remix 12" - Magick Eye Records
'Sul-E-Stomp' sees the first collaboration with Astralasia, who would go on to remix further Suns of Arqa tracks over the following years.  Using 'Sully's Reel' from the debut Suns of Arqa album 'Revenge of the Mozabites', Astralasia presents a variety of pulsating house remixes which were released on multiple 12" singles and on CD.

'Sul-E-Stomp' Digital EP is based on the original CD single and runs to nearly 40 minutes, taking the listener on a journey reminiscent of the legendary Whirl-Y-Gig parties of the 1990s.

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CD, LP - Arka Sound
This, the second of two Suns of Arqa LPs titled 'Arqaology', is a compilation album primarily made up of tracks from the debut album 'Revenge of the Mozabites', and the second album 'Wadada Magic'.  The album also features 'Acid Tabla Remix' from the 'GD Magick' 12" single originally released in 1983.

The album opens with two remixes, in Brujo Man remixed by Phil Kirby, and City of Nine Gates remixed by Minister Of Noise.  The CD contains 19 tracks in all and runs to almost 80 minutes, and the LP contains a shorter selection of 10 tracks.

CD - Arka Sound
'Jaggernaut Whirling Dub' is a cosmic, dub-world musical creation of four long luxurious tracks, based around ancient classical North Indian ragas which are both timeless and magical.

The album features Wadada, Tim Wheater, Kadir Durvesh, Sandeep Popatkar, Sticksman and Marek Miczyk, together with the mixing work of Youth, Astralasia and Greg Hunter.

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CD, LP - Arka Sound
‘Alap-Joe-Jhala’ was recorded in Southall, London with Nicolas Magriel on the sarangi, Wadada on bass and Chris Joyce on drums – his last session before going on to join Simply Red.

Recorded in the 1980s and released on CD and Vinyl in 1992, 'Alap-Joe-Jhala' is an album with a blend of Indian melodies, dub reggae bass lines and sheer dance power.  The album contains epic 'Dub-Ragas' and an eclectic blend of instrumentation and mix of cultures.

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CD - Earthsounds
'Cradle' is a meditative album based on Indian ragas.  The album is in four parts, and the four tracks are based on ragas Yaman Kalyam, Misra Pahvadi, Bhairavi & Bhupali in that order.

The album features Tim Wheater on flute, Kadir Durvesh on shenai and Marek Miczyk on violin.  The stunning cover painting is "Manfred & The Witch Of The Alps" by John Martin (1789-1854), and was used with kind permission of the Whitworth Art Gallery at the University Of Manchester.

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CD, LP - Arka Sound
'Kokoromochi' is an ambient dub collaboration, featuring the great bamboo flute maestro from Bombay, Ragunath Seth, santoor player Dhevdhas Nair, Mick Ripsher on tabla and Aziz Zeria on tanpura.  The album runs to 70 minutes and is a thoroughly relaxing and meditative dub journey from start to finish.

'Kokoromochi' includes two 20 minute tracks from the long lost ‘India?’ LP which was originally released in 1984 but had not been since issued on CD.

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CD - Arka Sound
'Land of a Thousand Churches' is a 75-minute, 19-track album and was the first CD release by Suns of Arqa.  It opens with a dance remix of 'The Truth Lies' remixed by Lee Monteverde, and also includes all 11 tracks from the 'Seven' LP, as well as a new remix of 'Open The Door To Your Heart' which is unique to this CD.  There are also tracks from 'Ark of the Arqans' and 'India' here.

Wadada's masterpiece is a world requiem mass with Dutch philosopher Erasmus (Professor Stanley Unwin) as your guide. In the SOA cathedral of dub, Indian Gods sit contentedly beside Celtic witches and the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel (John Cooper Clarke).  Suns of Arqa combine modern and primitive dance rhythms, religious incantations, eastern melodies and even a part of Fauré's Requiem, and it works!

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12" Single - Arka Sound
'Govinda Go' features a remix of 'Govinda' by Graham Massey (808 State), with vocals by Sanyogita Kumari and Prince Far-I.  Granada TV shows 'Bhangra Beat' and 'Rhythm and Raag' broadcast features on Suns of Arqa around this time, which included performances of both sides of this 12" release.  These features can both be found on the Hindu Pict DVD.

The B-Side, 'Hey Jagunath', is sung by Angel Eye and Reba Bhaduri, and is more dub-oriented than the A-Side.  It was produced by Wadada and engineered by Chris Nagle and John Pennington.

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LP - Antler Records
'Jaggernaut' is a cosmic, dub-world musical creation of four long luxurious tracks, based around ancient classical North Indian ragas which are both timeless and magical.  The LP was released by Antler Records in Belgium and is no longer available, however it was later remixed and is available as Jaggernaut Whirling Dub.

Wadada plays both bass and acoustic guitar, Kadir Durvesh plays shenai, Tim Wheater is on flute, and Marek Miczyk on violin.  The album is produced by Wadada and was recorded in Southall, London.

12" - Antler Records
'Govinda's House' is the first of many remixes of 'Govinda', this one is by Chris Nagle and the 12" single was released on Antler Records in Belgium and contains two tracks, with another dub mix on the B-Side.  Chris Nagle's remix presents a more house/dub oriented style when compared with the original version of the track from the album 'Seven'.

Sanyogita Kumari and the legendary Prince Far-I provide vocals, John Perkins is on sitar, Kalu Zeria on tabla, Mama B and Papa B on keyboards, Phil Kirby on drums and Wadada on bass guitar.

LP - Arka Sound, CD (Reissues) - Arka Sound, Corbett vs Dempsey.
'Seven' creates a hybrid of Christian and Hindu mysticism layered with alchemy.  It combines Gabriel Fauré's Requiem mass with early rumblings of Dub Step, Hindustani Ragas and Nyabinghi Dub Poetry. 

The conceptual story line features an impressive cast on the Arqa stage with John Cooper-Clarke as Ezekiel, Professor Stanley Unwin as Erasmus, Helen Watson as the Maid of Orleans, Sanyogita Kumari and Sarah Wildwitch as the Celtic sisters of Wyrd and Kadir Durvesh as Kali the Destroyer.  The album was reissued on CD in 2002 by Arka Sound, and in 2017 by Corbett vs Dempsey with additional tracks.

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12" Single - Arka Sound
'In Paradisum' was released to coincide with the album 'Seven', and features three tracks.  Produced by Wadada and recorded at Elephant Studio in London, it contains the 7" single mix and the disco dub mix.  The EP also includes the track 'Erasmus Meets The Earthling', which features Professor Stanley Unwin.

Wayne Worm plays bass on In Paradisum, Graham Dids is on percussion, Marek Miczyk is on keyboards, Daniel Broad on vocals, Danny Sheals on drums.  Erasmus features Kadir Durvesh on shenai, naqqara and harmonium, Lizard Logan and Kendal Ernest on bass, and Khalid on sitar.

LP - Rocksteady Records
'Arqaology' was subtitled 'Wadada 1979-1986' and is a compilation album containing a retrospective of Suns of Arqa tracks, and two tracks by Sprout Head Uprising.

The album contains the 'GD Magick' single with Prince Far I, tracks from the first four Suns of Arqa LPs, a new remix of 'Steppin' To the Music' by Steve Coe, and the edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from the Mozabites 7" single released originally in 1980.  The Sprout Head Uprising tracks featured are 'Nothing To Sing (Part II)' and 'Hard Life'.

12" MiniAlbum - Scarface
The full title of this album is in fact "Suns of Arqa Vol. 5: Ark Of The Arqans, Heaven And Hell And Other Strange Faces".  It was recorded in multiple locations : Studio Ace in Antwerp, Belgium, Out of Time in Manchester, England, and at U-Turn, Ashton-under-Lyne, England.

Professor Stanley Unwin provides vocals throughout Side A (the first three tracks), which includes an Adrian Sherwood remix of 'Heavenly Bodies'.  The album features Wadada, Lizard Logan, Kalu Zeria, Aziz Zeria, Dr Himadri Chaudhuri, Moot Beret and Eric Random.  The Digital Album contains three bonus tracks which were recorded at around this time.

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7" and 12" Single - Vogue Belgique
'Pressure Drop' is a single featuring a cover version of the classic Toots and the Maytals track.  The line-up includes Wadada, Lizard Logan, Moot Beret, Helen Watson, Cajun Kenny and Danny Boy, and the record was dedicated to Michael Williams and Terry McGever.

The Digital EP contains both the 12" and 7" versions, together with an instrumental 'Competition Mix' that appeared on the 12", which welcomed listeners to add their own music on top and send it to Suns of Arqa. 

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LP - Red Rhino/Rocksteady Records
'India?' is the earliest Suns of Arqa album to contain long ambient pieces inspired by Indian classical music.  The album was recorded at the U-Turn in Ashton-Under-Lyne in Lancashire, England, and contains five tracks in all.  The A-Side is called the 'Dancer Side', and the B-Side is the 'Yantra Side'.  The album is a deep, meditative and trance-inducing journey from start to finish.

Wadada provides sajoe, guitar, drums and vocals.  Also featured are Kalu Zeria (tabla), Aziz Zeria (tanpura), Dr Himadri Chaudhuri (violin, mandolin, harp), Lizard Logan & Moot Beret (bass), Eric Random (shakers), Helen Watson & Madastra (vocals), OB Glen & OB Gray (keyboards).

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12" Single - Antler Records
'Get Down Magick', or 'GD Magick' was recorded with the legendary Prince Far-I.  The title track is an alternate version of 'Brujo Magic' from the 'Wadada Magic' LP, with this version focusing more on Prince Far-I's vocals.  Additional vocals are provided by Helen Watson.

Side B opens with a remix of Acid Tabla produced by Adrian Sherwood, and the second track contains a medley of two live tracks recorded with Prince Far-I in Manchester the previous year.

LP - Antler Records
'Wadada Magic' is the second Suns of Arqa album, recorded and released in 1983 by Antler Records.  The majority of the album was recorded at the legendary Strawberry Studios in Stockport, England, apart from 'The Lesson' and 'The Heat' which were recorded at Cargo Studios in Rochdale.

Prince Far-I features on 'Magic Version' and 'City of Nine Gates', Chris Joyce (who later joined Simply Red) is on drums, and vocals throughout are provided by Helen Watson, Wadada, Aziz Zeria and Mustaphafakir.

12" Single - Virgin Records
The 'Mysteries of East / Ananta Snake Dance' single was released in 1982, and contained a special edit of the track 'Ananta Snake Dance' by Suns of Arqa, which was written and produced by Wadada.  The 12" also contains the track 'Mysteries of the East' by Jhalib.

The sleeve is designed by Peter Saville and Martyn Atkins, both of whom created artwork for many Manchester musicians and bands from this era.

7" Single - Rocksteady Records
'Mozabites' was released shortly after the debut album 'Revenge of the Mozabites'.  It was recorded at Cargo Studios in Rochdale, England and mixed at Berry Street Studio in London.

The A-Side is a non-album track called 'Soul to Save', written by Wadada and Aziz Zeria, and which also featured on Virgin Records' "INDIPop CompilASIAN" LP the following year.  It is significantly easier to track down this LP than the original 7" single!  The B-Side (referred to on the sleeve as the 'Talking Drum Side') features an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites'.

LP - Rocksteady Records, CD (Reissues) - Arka Sound, Corbett vs Dempsey
In 1979 Suns of Arqa creator and mentor Michael Wadada set about recording the ground breaking album 'Revenge of the Mozabites' with his friend Adrian Sherwood. Together they formed the ‘4D Rhythm’ label – the world was not ready!  Wadada retreated to the Pennine mountain range in Lancashire, Adrian Sherwood went on to create the formidable ‘On-U Sound’ label. Three years went by before a a very curious Peter Gabriel came across a rare copy of this album; he was putting together the very first World of Music and Dance festival (WOMAD), and asked Suns of Arqa to come and perform. 

'Revenge of the Mozabites' is where it all started, this truly eclectic album of world-dub-east-west fusion ignited what would ultimately become the new World Beat Dub Dance genre which has influenced & inspired so many artists today.  The album was re-issued on CD in 2001 by Arka Sound, and in 2017 by Corbett vs Dempsey with bonus tracks.

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'Lone Star and the Sprout Head Uprising' is a compilation of Sprout Head Uprising tracks from the 1980s, with some new additional tracks and versions.  It was released on CD by Antler-Subway in Belgium and contains 18 tracks in all.

The album was produced by Wadada, who also plays bass on several tracks.  Angel Eye also makes an appearance on 'Blanket on the Ground' and 'Buena'.

'White Band Speak With Forked Tongue' is an album featuring Sprout Head Uprising and Suns of Arqa, which was released only on a limited edition cassette.  The album consists primarily of cover versions of classic songs, and includes the singles 'Champs-Élysées' (originally by Prince Buster) and 'Pressure Drop' (originally by Toots and the Maytals).

Musicians include the Suns of Arqa line-up of Wadada, Helen Watson, Lizard Logan, & Moot Beret, along with members of Sprout Head Uprising, and there are 13 tracks in all.  The album has never been re-issued on CD.
 

'Champs-Élysées' is a single by Suns of Arqa and Sprout Head Uprising, credited on the sleeve to 'SOA Band'.  It is backed by 'Sprout Head Mash Up', which was written and performed with Sprout Head Uprising.

A light-hearted dub reggae track, Champs-Élysées is a cover version of the Prince Buster song 'Take It Easy', and features The Harder Sisters on vocals.  The B-Side is written by Wadada, Richard Hardman and Terence Dowling.

'Early Spring' is the debut album released by Sprout Head Uprising on Rocksteady Records, and produced by Wadada.  The album features eleven tracks - some of which were written by Wadada and members of the band, and others which were cover versions.

The Digital Album re-release includes seven bonus tracks, including some previous unreleased songs, and some new mixes.

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'Throw Some Water In' is the second single by Sprout Head Uprising.  It was written by Lee Perry, and this version was released on Stiff Records.  The single was recorded at Cargo Studios, Rochdale and engineered by Colin Richardson.

It is backed by 'Nothing to Sing Part II', which was written and produced by Wadada, who also features on vocals and guitar.

'Electric Animal' is the debut single by Sprout Head Uprising, released on Rocksteady Records.  The single was recorded at Cargo Studios, Rochdale and at Gooseberry Sound Studios in London, England.

'Electric Animal' was written and produced by Wadada, and features Drummie Zeb on drums, Carl Brown on guitar and Nicola Jepson on vocals.  The record was engineered by Colin Richardson.  The song 'Electric Animal' also appeared several years later on the album 'White Band Speak With Forked Tongue'.