Dissidenten are a German rock band known for their collaborations with Middle Eastern, African and Indian musicians. In a 1988 article for The New York Times, music critic Stephen Holden acknowledged the band as being among the leaders of what he termed "the 'world beat' movement ... in which ethnic styles are contemporised with electronic dance rhythms".
Around 1981, the group were founded in India by Friedemann "Friedo" Josch (b 21 July 1952, Mainz, wind instruments, keyboards) and former Embryo band members Uwe "Uve" Müllrich (b 7 December 1947, Rügen, bass, oud, guitar, vocals) and Michael Wehmeyer (keyboards, piano). Still in 1981, Marlon Klein (b 13 December 1957, Herford, drums, perc, keyboards, vocals) replaced Wehmeyer, and the band renamed themselves to Dissidenten. 1982/83, they founded their own record label Exil in Berlin.
Following a one-year tour of Asia, the group decided to stay in India to produce their first album Germanistan, with the help of the Karnataka College of Percussion, female singer R.A. Ramamani and percussionist Ramesh Shotham. The live line-up was joined by Indian pianist Louis Banks and American saxophonist Charlie Mariano. Concerts in Calcutta, Madrid, Casablanca and Stockholm are documented on the live album Germanistan Tour 83.
They then moved on to Morocco to record Sahara Elektrik in 1982 at the Palace of Abdesalam Akaaboune in Tangier with the help of friend Paul Bowles and local sha'abi band Lemchaheb. The track "Fata Morgana" became a dance hit in Europe (especially Spain and Italy) and Canada, and the group toured worldwide.
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Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have first played Dissidenten in 1984 via their Sahara Electric (also known as Sahara Elektrik) album, which they collaborated with Moroccan group, Lemchaheb. He would play further material from the group in the mid-80's and revisited the group in 1999 on his radio programmes.
Shows Played[]
- 20 June 1984 (& Lemchaheb): Sahara Elektrik (LP - Sahara Elektrik) Exil
- 04 July 1984 (& Lemchaheb): Casablanca - Wacha Wacha (LP - Sahara Electric) EXIL
- 04 July 1984 (BFBS) (& Lemchaheb): Sahara Electric (LP - Sahara Electric) Exil
- 28 July 1984 (BFBS) (& Lemchaheb): El Mounadi - Die Wüste Lebt (album - Sahara Electric) Exil
- 1985
- 26 March 1985 (& Lemchaheb): 'Casablanca (12")' (Fuzz Dance)
- 14 April 1985 (BFBS) (& Lemchaheb): 'Casablanca (12")' (Fuzz Dance)
- 09 September 1985 (BFBS) (& Lemchaheb): 'Fata Morgana (LP-Sahara Electric)' (Globe Style)
- 1987
- 01 June 1987: Inshalla (12") Ginger Music
- 1988
- 22 February 1988: Inshalla (12") Ginger Music
- 1999
- 06 May 1999 (& Lemchaheb): Sahara Elektrik (LP - Sahara Elektrik) Globe Style