Bilal's Boulder is a modern day aural adaptation of a series of allegories centered around Bilal Ibn Rabah, a 6th and 7th century vocalist, who under the title of mu'addin or "caller to prayer" came to epitomize humanity's struggle towards submission to peace. Through the devices of sonic and textual painting Bilal's Boulder canvases the story of one man's journey from subjugation to liberty.
All at once, by way of Bilal's tales, the listener is transported into concurrent dimensions. Ethiopia might very well be the East Coast of the United States. Mecca, Saudia Arabia might become Newark, New Jersey. A proclamation of peace might be heard for miles or it might be murmured so softly that only digital audio software can detect it.
Bilal's story begins with Insatiable Race Relations, a mid-tempo drum-roll drag. Bilal's voice like a one-string oud, slides back and forth between two modes in three measures. Swelling undervocals serve as a chordal chorus, swaying like waves of different amplitudes and phases, folding over one another.
lyrics
I've insatiable relations.
But I've no time for race elation.
I've insatiable elation.
But I've no time for race relations.
credits
from Bilal's Boulder,
released August 28, 2012
prod by BIL△L S△L△△M
supported by 6 fans who also own “Insatiable RacElations”
I didn’t even know I was looking for this record, and then it found me. Holy cow, it’s so great. Drum machine and a variety of keyboards, the occasional overdubbed layers of understated vocals, and little skeletons of songs that sound terrific just the way they are. A minimalist odyssey for sure. Markly Morrison