Das in Berlin ansässige Label Morphine Records hat eine genreübergreifende Fundraising-Compilation herausgebracht, deren Erlös den Betroffenen der Explosionen zugute kommt, die sich am 4. August im Hafen der libanesischen Hauptstadt Beirut ereigneten. Empfänger der Einnahmen sind verschiedene Organissationen, die sich vor Ort um Lebensmittel, medizinische und technische Unterstützung kümmern. Musikalisch decken die zwölf Tracks eine Bandbreite von Neuer Musik über Soundkollagen, Improv und diverse Electronica bis zu folkig angehauchten Akustikstücken ab. Zu hören sind Arbeiten von John Kameel Farah und Thomas Brinkmann, The Bug, dem aus den libanesischen Sound- und Improv-Artists Sharif Sehnaoui, Raed Yassin und Mazen Kerbaj bestehende “A” trio, Monolake, Irena und Vojtech Havlovi, Donato Dozzy, dem unseren Lesern von seiner Zusammenarbeit mit Oiseaux-Tempete her bekannte Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, Rashad Becker, Natalie Beridze, Neel, Stefan Fraunberger und nicht zuletzt Morphine-Gründer Rabih Beaini.

“On August 4th, at 6pm Beirut time, a series of explosions in the 12th Warehouse of the Port of Beirut climaxed into a devastating destructive wave that killed more than 220 people and injured thousands. The damage in the area surrounding the explosion is of catastrophic levels, while the whole city of Beirut reported severe damages to structures and buildings. The initial investigations were reporting a criminal level of negligence and corruption, in a country already economically and socially devastated by its political establishment’s looting of the state funds since decades, continued with lack of search for survivors, the looting or refusal of the international first aid and the shameless request of direct funds to the establishment.

People are in anger in front of the carelessness, corruption, of the regime who made the country collapse, people who now need food, shelters, medicines. Morphine Records, through its founder Rabih Beaini and the work of friends and relatives, is on campaign mode with different levels of engagement. The first one was an open call on Bandcamp Friday, and we managed to collect a good amount that has been sent to local NGO’s working on the ground, like Food Heritage Foundation, Matbakh Albalad, and the Lebanese Red Cross. Today we launch the second phase, The Sacred Rage, a collection of unreleased tracks by some of the finest musicians, who wanted to contribute to the fundraise and who shared our anger and disappointment in the Lebanese authorities.

It is a personal and collective gesture of resistance, by Label owner Rabih Beaini, and fellow musicians Donato Dozzy, “A” trio, Monolake, Thomas Brinkmann, Havlovi, and many others. A 12 tracks compilation that screams justice, equality, dignity, compiled in a confused and angry state of mind but made with love and loads of energy. The entire proceeds of this compilation will be channeled to real ground work in Beirut, that will provide food, medicine, structural supplies like doors and windows, and repairing shelters that has been seriously damaged by the explosion. Please consider donating to the above-mentioned organizations.” (Morphine Records)