| Shalabi Effect | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Montreal, Quebec |
| Genre: | Experimental rock Psychedelic rock |
| Years Active: | 1996 - present |
| Label: | Alien8, Annihaya Records, Unrock |
| Associated Acts: | Land Of Kush, Swamp Circuit, Detention, Nutsak, The Dwarfs of East Agouza, Moose Terrific, Valley of the Giants, Klaxon Gueule, K.A.N.T.N.A.G.A.N.O., Spring Quintet |
| Website: | (defunct) |
| Current Members: | Anthony Seck Sam Shalabi Alexandre Saint-Onge Will Eizlini |
| Past Members: | John Heward |
Shalabi Effect is a mostly instrumental band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The band was originally formed in 1996 as a duo composed of Anthony Seck and Sam Shalabi.[1] Shalabi is an Egyptian-Canadian musician who is also the founder of Swamp Circuit, Detention, Nutsak, The Dwarfs of East Agouza, Moose Terrific and the orchestra Land of Kush. Seck is a filmmaker and member of the supergroup Valley of the Giants.
Shalabi and Seck independently released their first recording, a self-titled limited-edition cassette, in 1998. They then added Montreal artist and musician Alexandre Saint-Onge on double bass, and Will Eizlini on tablas and recorded the song "Aural Florida" at Red Rocket Studios in Montreal. The 36-minute song was meant to be half of a split CD with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, produced by Alien8. Instead, Alien8 became their label and they recorded "Aural Florida" for a second time at Sound of Sound of One Hand Studios in Ottawa, along with several other songs. The result was the two-CD album Shalabi Effect, which was released in 2000.[2] The album continues in the tradition of live improvisation based on Middle Eastern modes but with a more experimental approach. It also includes strange semi-broken electronics and a variety of odd instruments, most of which were lying around in the studio where it was recorded.[3]
Returning from touring the United States in the autumn of 2000, the group stepped into the studio for the third time. This time with a mind to create an EP release that captured the mood of the tour. In fact the EP, entitled, The Trial of St. Orange, has a great deal more varied material, including a drum 'n bass mix. Pink Abyss, dubbed by the band as their "pop" record, was released in January 2004. In 2005, they released their fourth album, Unfortunately.
On July 18, 2007, Anthony Seck was a guest, and music from the Shalabi Effect was featured on an unscheduled "technical test" episode of Tom Green Live. Anthony Seck was again featured on Tom Green Live in March 2008 in a segment called 'Shalabi with Cheese'.