1. Resistance : Gentle Persistence
2. I Didn't Notice You Weren't Irish
3. Chicken Breakout Theme
4. Thank You
5. Resistance : Determination
6. Resistance : Joy
7. Taita,Tar Arais Ar Feadh La Amhain
   (Taita, Come Back For Just One Day)
   
8. This Space Inside
9. Ode To A Washing Machine (Divinity In All Things)
10. Resistance : Connection

Resistance : Gentle Persistence

War journalists have increasingly come under direct attack
in Israel and Iraq, while mainstream media continue to
avoid the severity of conditions Palestinians live under (over
350 Palestinian children ages 12-18 are held in Israeli
prisons and subjected to systematic abuse - Censored
2006), and instead prefer to align themselves to superpowers
with very little challenge to their leaders (5 years
since 9/11 a total of 4,319 have been killed in major terror
attacks while 92,469 have been killed in the 'war on terror'
- The Guardian 11/9/2006). It seems to me that extremes
create opposing extremes with little hope for peace.This
tune is dedicated to efforts in finding non-violent means of
communication through gentle persistence.

I Didn't Notice You Weren't Irish

Since I moved to Ireland over 21 years ago I have been
asked several times how long I have been living here. Over
the last few years I began to notice the subtlety in the
reactions I am given: some say "You're nearly Irish",
welcomingly, and some say "You're nearly Irish" with a hint
of "But you will never be".The most beautiful reaction I
received was when I sent my second CD to Blaise Smith, a
great painter and jazz pianist I have known casually over
the past twenty years. He e-mailed me back,“…strangely I
had never accounted for your background. I had never
really noticed that you had another culture to draw on till I
heard this. .. I thought you were Irish, man!! Then you go
and do this!! Hahaha…”This tune, an Arabic jig, is
dedicated to Blaise's beautiful culture-blindness.

Chicken Breakout Theme

I learnt recently that chicken that are bread in metallic
cages (non free range), when they defecate, their feces
eventually becomes acidic and burns back through their
skins…This tune is written as background music in support
of chickens that would organise themselves and eventually
breakout of their cages and towards a more 'humane' life…
A national anthem for a human-free chicken state may be
composed in the future should I be privileged enough to
be approached.

Thank You

This tune is written for Billy Ohanluain to express
gratitude for organising a benefit concert for Lebanon
during the recent invasion by Israel. During the 34 days of
extensive bombardment I would phone my aunt and
cousin on a daily basis.Telling them of Billy's gesture, and
eventual great success, made a huge difference to my family
who lived through Bush and Blair's every effort to ensure
that an early ceasefire would not be accomplished…
Also thanks to all who contributed in any way, those who
turned up, and those who couldn't but kept us in their
hearts and minds.

Resistance : Determination

I have grown to believe in cultural resistance. During the
second invasion of Iraq the looting and burning of libraries
under American occupation has caused irreversible damage
to the Arabic culture, which is also part of this World's
culture.When I first moved to Ireland I didn't understand
why some Irish people still chose to learn Irish. Now I do.
Language does more than communicate practical needs, it
can evoke a way of being in this World,“May the road rise
to meet you”. Even without saying it in its original
language, the translation alone evokes a softer spirit in me,
one that is more open to what is beyond the confines of
my skin. I am humbled to be living amidst a rich heritage,
may I learn how to extend myself to it...

Resistance : Joy

During the recent bombardment of Lebanon I often felt
sick in my soul, a feeling I grew up with, and one that
often visits me when overwhelmed by learning about
difficult issues in our World. I have to actively remind
myself of the beauty of the world around me, reminding
myself that I am more empowered, more effective when
joyful.This is not always practically applicable, pain is life
too, just like joy is, neither without the other. Still, this tune
hopes to serve as a reminder to connect with joy.

Taita,Tar Arais Ar Feadh La Amhain
(Taita, Come Back For Just One Day)

Taita is grandmother in Lebanese. She raised my brother and I.
Taita passed away over three years ago. I opted to have the
sentiment of this song translated to Irish, the language of
my adopted country;“Taita, come back for just one day.
Your daughters can cook, but not like you”

This Space Inside

I wrote this tune over nine months ago, drawn from my
experiences of growing up in the civil war in Lebanon over
twenty years ago. I remember living through periods when
there would be constant shelling. Eventually I would try to
find my centre amidst the surrounding chaos.This tune
replicates this process: Robbie, Jose, and I wage war on
Brendan while he centres himself.

Ode To A Washing Machine (Divinity In All Things)

Less than a year ago I carried out a series of exercises, some
spiritual and some involving body exercises such as tapping
on my hands to awaken the meridians.Within a few weeks
I began to feel a flowing feeling as if I was in love. One
night I heard the buzzing sound of my washing machine as
it was finishing its last cycle. I went and watched the
climaxing cycle and it's eventual slowing down to a halt.As
I did this I ended up reflecting on all the washing machines
that have washed my clothes since I was a boy. And I felt a
gratitude. I knew it was machines, supposedly inanimate,
but still, there was something alive I had not seen before. I
was in touch with this ecstatic state for about a month, and
then it faded. Against the possibility that I would be
labelled a 'nutcase', I wrote this tune as a reminder that
divinity can be perceived in all things around us.

Resistance : Connection

My cousin Fadi was due to fly over to join us for the
recording of this album, however due to the recent war in
Lebanon he was unable to apply for a visa. I was
determined that somehow he would join us.As Dave's
recording studio is separated from his house by a few
meters he ended up using an extension, out of his studio,
through the letter box, and mike the house phone. Fadi
rang us, Dave amplified the signal, and we recorded this
tune live, via phone, with contributions from Dave's
three-legged cat who was lurking outside the studio.