The Wonderful World of Arabic Cassettes and Archival Preservation
I thought I'd quickly share some of the sites I frequently visit or would like to recommend when it comes to the world of music from the Middle East and adjacent regions. While I share no expertise on the subject, it's a style of music I've come to obsess over when dabke music was introduced to me through Omar Souleyman. I still feel the sting of not being able to see him perform live in the States due to our country's awful policies and discrimination, but that doesn't mean we still can't enjoy what is out there. So here are some sites that will hopefully guide you to a similar path of appreciation.
A personal blog for the man behind the booth, Disco Arabesquo is a small yet wonderful look into music discovery from the cultural zeitgeist of the Middle East and North Africa. From obscure 90s remixes in the back of a Cairo shop to 70s Taroub Soul from a boiler room set, Arabesquo shares whatever offerings he can digitize. While his blog is not active as of recent, you can certainly catch him DJ'ing like in Amsterdam if you follow his socials.
Syrian Cassette Archive
The Syrian Cassette Archive is seriously one of the best sites for Syrian music. With detailed biographies, comprehensive genre tags, high quality image scans, and an awesome music player, you won't find something as well researched and loved. Coming from a place of passion, SCA is a non-profit that not only archives but actively interviews artists and keeps in contact with the communities these tapes originate.
Arabic 78 Collection
These early 1930s-1950s recordings of Arab and Arab-American music are thankfully archived by the Loeb Music Library in Harvard. Most of it is publicly accessible without creating an account. It's a neat look into early folk and opera and rising singers at the time, even if the quality isn't the best.
Habibi Funk Records
If you're looking for something much more accessible, look no further than Habibi Funk Records! You'll find their vinyl records in the international section of most record shops these days, and the variety is astounding. From Lybian reggae to 60s Sudanese jazz, everything is on the table.