Omar Souleyman

Syrian techno artist Omar Souleyman has put his name on more than 500 LPs, but Western audiences were introduced to his music in a more truncated form thanks to three recent releases from the Sublime Frequencies label, a Seattle label dedicated to putting out obscure records from areas traditionally underrepresented in America. Now he’s released more than 500 albums since 1994, catching the ear of avant garde artists like Bjork, with whom he released a collaborative EP earlier this summer. With measured doses of techno, pop, and more traditional sounds from Syria, Souleyman’s music is at turns exotic and hip-shakingly familiar. His latest record is Haflat Gharbia—The Western Concerts, released earlier this year on Sublime Frequencies.

Updated 10/19/2011