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Scrambled eggs came together as a musical entity in Beirut in 1998, in a city still reeling from the damages of its civil war(s). The band went through different combinations of musicians before settling on its present line-up, in 2004. After riding the Grunge wave for a while, the group went for a more experimental approach to its music. The 'Quadrangle' pub in Beirut was the theater of this first series of improvisations, which defined the band's creative process. In 2002 the group went into the studio for the first time, and delivered its first album in a span of two intensely creative days. 'Human Friendly Noises' is characterized by a spacious, ambient rock mood, and showcases a band still debating its influences, from British alternative and progressive rock (note the use of wind instruments like the flute...) to more aggressive strands of American rock and pop. Although this first album had a great influence among the Lebanese rock scene, the group was not entirely satisfied, and went back to the studio to record what eventually became "No Special Date, Nor A Deity To Venerate". This second album finds the Eggs hard at work establishing their own, particular musical identity; although some of their influences can still be discerned (specifically, the bands from the Canadian label Constellation, deftly mixed with noise and no-wave ingredients), the boys have embraced a whole new palette of sounds and created their own distinctive sound on this album, a fine mesh of guitars and noises, pushing to the extreme the search for harmony in chaos. The influence of free improvisation kept on growing steadily, and parallel to their work with Scrambled eggs, group members Charbel Haber and Marc Codsi started playing and recording with European artists from the Improv scene. In the summer of 2004, the group played in many festivals, including the Byblos International festival and the Irtijal improvisation festival in Beirut. The end of 2004 was characterized by the creation of the band's own record label, "Those Kids Must Choke", and the release of the eggs' third studio album, "Nevermind Where, Just Drive". This was by far the band's most experimental effort yet, seamlessly blending elements of noise and free improvisation. In 2005, Scrambled eggs went back into the studio, this time to work on the soundtrack of "A Perfect Day", directed by Lebanese filmmakers Joanna Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. The finished album included 4 compositions by the band, and received the Best Soundtrack Award at the Festival des Trois Continents in Nantes (France). The group is presently working on its 4th record in Beirut, and readying itself for upcoming gigs in Europe.

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TIME Magazine Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll in a Failing State Mar 29

TIME Magazine Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll in a Failing State
Category: Music

Lebanese youths party in a nightclub in Beirut.

Marwan Naamani / AFP / Getty

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Despite a jihadist uprising in the north, a political crisis in the capital, and rumors of war swirling all around, it's business as usual in Beirut's packed nightclubs. The good-looking people in this good-time town have long partied to a familiar soundtrack of popping champagne corks, clacking high-heels, and the generic beat of computer-generated dance music -- whatever it takes to drown out the sound of Lebanon's continual crises. But for a relatively small number of Beirut hipsters, there's another soundtrack, evoking rather than denying the instability of their lives.

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Discography - see all 4

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  Happy Together Filthy Foever

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  Nevermind Where, Just Drive

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  No Special Date Nor Deity To Venerate

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  Human Friendly Noises

Band Members - see all 4

• Tony Elieh - Bass Guitar

• Charbel Haber - Guitar and Vox

• Marc Codsi - Guitar and Vox

• Malek Rizkallah - Drums