I received an e-mail from one of the TMPS distributors, Monsieur Losfeld Thierry, who runs La Faculte Distribution out of France, specializing in electronic and experimental avante-music. Monsieur Thierry responded to the September 16th post I made, “Monitoring the Centres of Power”, a phrase I took from exemplary Israeli journalist, Amira Hass, who writes for Tel-Aviv-based Ha’aretz. In the post, I described how local courier company, Purolator, took the art work for Fuck Israel straight to the police instead of the CD assembly plant like they were supposed to. Once I made the distinction between anger and hate (latter is illegal, but not the former) to the police officer, he let the art work go. Anyone who took the time to read the liner notes would know right away it has nothing to do with hate, rather a defiant shout against injustice. To that end, I tip my hat to the Peel Region Police for being able to understand reason. Monsieur Thierry related an experience he had when he ordered a Muslimgauze vinyl record set from US-based Important Records. His account is gobsmacking because it is so ridiculous, bordering on comical, worthy of Monty Python if it was not laden with threats from police. I have read your blog post (on Fuck Israel) and it remind me my problems with customs officers and the police when the Zuriff Moussa LPs (Important, 2004) were out. I ordered all 4 vinyl release colors but never received then. Then one day a call from the police summoned me the station “for just a small problem”. I thought it was for a problem with my car or something like that. I went to the Police station and waited. While waiting at the reception 2 young policemen behind a desk looked at me strangely and I hear the younger say to the other, “It’s the guy from the brigade”.
Strange, I thought. I kept waiting and after some time, a man with a long beard motioned me to a small room. A second man followed. We sat down and first question was, “Dear Mr Losfeld, when have you last visited Afghanistan?” and others strange questions around Palestine, Arabs and Islam. Their tone and the way they asked questions was very abrupt, unpleasant. After some questions about my religion and my way of life, I said “Please stop. Now I need to know about what you want and what I am here for? They replied they were from the police anti-terror (the one with the beard was an infiltration agent) and they thought I was with terrorism. I was really frightened and found nothing to say. Then they open a bag and I saw it was my package from Important Records. They showed me the cover with the Mujahidine. I said, “yes, come on, we’re bordering ridiculous! it’s about music first. But they answered. “Look Mr Losfeld you make propaganda, look at this title ( “a need for a suicide bombazine”). Are you OK with that?!?” I tried to explain the history and problems between Israel and Palestine. I explained that I was interested in this problems and finally I asked if it was forbidden to support the Palestinian cause. After an hour of questions and answers, I was really exhausted. The two policemen left and conferred around 10 pm.. I was alone, thinking about my small life, my job, my family. If the police visited my home they probably would find others “forbidden” records and ideas. They came back and said. “Well, you’re free but think of all your problems, Mr Losfeld. It’s your conscience. Don’t support terrorism anymore or you’ll get problems. Really, next time! You are warned!”
Of course they kept my package of records and I left, happy to be free and think that it’s really easy to admit I’m a terrorist after the tone of their questions and my exhaustion. Once out I thought the sun shines for one and all.

Muslimgauze – Zuriff Moussa

Based on this story, the French police owe Monsieur Thierry, by rights, both an apology and a record shopping spree. America, despite its surpassing faults, still sanctions freedom of speech in the constitution (unlike France and Canada). But censorship still exists. A case in point was back when I wrote for Dusted Magazine wherein The Rootsman Meets Muslimgauze: Al Aqsa Intifada arrived on my desk for review. I was instructed by editor, Otis Hart, not to mention politics in my review, “we don’t discuss it”. As if the name Muslimgauze, or the album title itself was not a political statement, the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupying forces. Indeed, much of the Dusted staff went on to misquote Bryn Jones’ interview in Industrial Nation. Bryn Jones stated, “There are no musical influences – only political facts and figureheads (e.g. Arafat, Gadaffi, Bhutto, Khaled, Saddam, etc.). Such things are the starting point from which Muslimgauze’s music is taken.” which the moronic Dusted contributor interpreted as advocacy when in reality Jones was discussing what specifically informed his music as trigger points. Much the way Hip Hop is “the CNN of the streets”, Jones took cues of what was happening in the Muslim world and the West’s involvement. Musical narratives and meditations on injustice. Or as BBC music journalist Steve Barker put it, “Muslimgauze is a sonic treatise on the Intifada.”