speed of dark » Rainbow Arabia

The genre-bending duo of Rainbow Arabia are Danny and Tiffany Preston, married couple from Echo Park. Their music is unlike my usual folky, rustic, guitar-band fare, but the beats and upbeat attitude are irresistible. The more I listen, the more I like it. It’s like Sgt. Pepper parties at Mardi Gras in Rio. Like Gang Gang Dance stars in The 1001 Arabian Nights.

“Harlem Sunrise” begins with a hip-hop-like riff and beat that then twists itself into sun-drenched steel-drum bliss. Like School of Seven Bells and Fever Ray, Rainbow Arabia meld electronica and dance with world-music influences, in this case, the serpentine melodies and vocals of the Middle East, to create a environment at once foreign and hauntingly familiar. Just when the neocons want you to fear everything Arab, we’re stealing their music.

The followup to their debut EP The Basta is a mini-LP titled Kabukimono, which was released in July on Manimal Vinyl. Put riot-at-the-camel-races “Omar K” (the video depicts what happens when werewolves go grocery shopping) from The Basta in your Halloween party mix, and people will stop talking and ask, “What that?”

From Kabukimono:

Rainbow Arabia - Kabukimono
Rainbow Arabia - Harlem Sunrise

More downloads at RCRD LBL