Listeners who know much of anything about Bryn Jones' work as Muslimgauze know that he was prolific in both his work and Muhammadunize,
has what could be called a classic feel to it, with a very familiar
blend of drones, string instruments, and synths, and varying
percussion/break-beat patterns, in turn mixed with a number of
hard-to-catch vocal samples. It's a formula used many times in the past
by Jones, yet somehow he still manages to keep things just fresh enough,
investing songs like the first and second "Khalifate" and especially
both slamming versions of "Imad Akel" with enough unexpected touches. He
incorporates the basic power of his work in the tracks as well, with
both beauty and a nervy, hard-to-define tension as the songs progress.
The sound palette of Muhammadunize is very similar to his ambient-techno albums such as Mullah Said and Gun Aramaic,
down to the rhythms and the trademark tanpura drones and keys in C
minor. The difference is that it's a bit more aggressive and
faster-paced than the aforementioned albums, thus utilizing a similar
dark atmosphere to a more immediate and in-your-face effect, especially
as noted by the drum-kit urban-sounding pulse of "Imad Akel", one of the
high points on this album. However, a favorite track here is the closer
"Fatah Guerrilla" (also title track of the whole triple album),
featuring a rapid echoed rhythm along with a barrage of percussion
popping up and echoing every so often, sounding like they're flying
through the room at a quick pace; the piece also features a beautiful
flute melody which combines with the busy rhythm section in an
interesting way.
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