Whatever seems beautiful,
we made by the grace of the gods

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OFRA HAZA
The world is a less beautiful place without her breathtaking talent.
[ Ofra Haza passed away at 19:40 Israeli Time, 23/02/00 ]

The ancient city of Babylon was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, situated 80km south of Baghdad on the banks of the Euphrates. A city of learning, it was the centre of Babylonia, during which time history records a rare period of worldwide peace and prosperity.

The achievements of the Babylonian civilisation are now legendary: the building of magnificent temples, canals, roads and the adorning of cities. King Nebuchadnessar built the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon - one of the seven wonders of the world - as a gift to his wife. King Hammurabi wrote the first recorded human laws ("An eye for an eye"). King Nimrod built the Tower Of Babel (featured on Tarot cards) to reach the heavens. Thousands of years later and powerful men still build Skyscrapers and make Laws, but the Gardens are vanishing and the world is no longer at Peace...

Ceremonial Bowl - 3000bc (from the dogsquad collection)

The Black Dog collective honour the unique talent and beauty of Ofra Haza, sadly taken from us all at 19:40 (Israeli Time) on 23rd February 2000. We cannot describe the privilege we felt working with Ofra Haza, without question one of the world's most incredible artists. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, and all of those fortunate enough to have heard her voice. She was truly a voice worthy of the Gods and we felt humbled to have been touched by her talent... Babylon was Ofra's last collaboration.

The Black Dog featuring featuring featuring featuring featuring Ofra Haza "BABYLON" was released by Warner. Formats: 2 x CD (CD1 in a special Digipak) and 1 x 12" format (each includes a different track listing) comprising the original versions alongside remixes by our mates Peter Lazonby, Scanner, Terminalhead, Future Loop Foundation and finally two massive mixes by The Scourge of The Earth (Jimmy Cauty, of The KLF). For Ofra Haza info you can access her official website at http://www.ofrahaza.com/

"Wordless howls from the famous Israeli singer - one time Sisters Of Mercy collaborator, among others - are stiched into a brilliant tapestry of beats by the ever enigmatic Black Dog. And - hey presto! - you're transported to the edge of the River Euphrates, riding a camel, taking tokes from a hookah pipe and journeying towards the sunset. Evocative and exotic in equal parts." (single of the week - of beats by the ever enigmatic Black Dog. And - hey presto! - you're transported to the edge of the River Euphrates, riding a camel, taking tokes from a hookah pipe and journeying towards the sunset. Evocative and exotic in equal parts." (single of the week - nme, 2/99).

"Babylon is as frighteningly pioneering as the mystical civilisation that inspired it. The Black Dog continues to confuse and entertain in equal measures." (dj magazine)

"Tight production, swirling aural soundscapes and exotic and intoxicating Eastern melodies and rhythms from the elusive Black Dog ensure that Babylon pushes the envelope just the right side of leftfield. Open your ears, skin up and relax." (club on, 3/99)

"The soundworld is exotic and attractive: state-of-the-art beats and technology meet the perfumed timbres of the Middle East." (Q, 2/99).

"Ofra Haza has never been better served, and the sound of the souk has rarely snuggled down with a rhythm track as smoothly as it does here. Babylon is indeed burning - but not with boredom." (jewish chronicle, 1/99).

"Babylon introduces the ancient to the modern, sort of belly dancing meets trance, a form of sublime madness."
(london jewish news, 2/99).

"The Black Dog's glorious 'Hammurabi Radio Mix' will be an oasis of quality amidst the desert of talent in the UK charts." (exclaim, 2/99).

"A bizarre, yet beautiful track." (mixmag)

[ also check out the melody maker feature, published 13/3/99 ].

The Black Dog and Ofra Haza

What's it about?
Well, its about how our lives, such precious gems, are squandered away on crappy jobs, paying the rent, and just generally "getting by". It's about how people, unique as we all are, still want to treat each other like dirt because they talk and look different. It's about the decline of western civilisation. And a bunch of other things.

Babylon - The Song
The lyrics are in Hebrew with a backing that has an Arabic feel. This is an attempt to show that in the distant Pagan past, proto 'Arabs' and 'Hebrews' did co-exist peacefully. And that the benefit was a fairly long lasting period of peace and prosperity for humanity. A state of mind, that if you believe in the bible, the monotheistic god(s) of the old testament felt necessary to destroy.

"There is nothing that they cannot do, if they put their minds to it."

Info Blips..

Babylon - A celebrated city, the capital of the Assyrian empire, on the banks of the Euphrates. It has 100 brazen gates; and it's walls, which were cemented with bitumen, were greatly embellished with images of lions and other strange creatures.

The city circumference was 385 stadia (7 miles ??), the walls were 50 cubits thick, and a lofty 200 cubits tall.

A powerful Citystate at the dawn of civilisation (as we know it), it is reputedly where the first human laws were written down, by King Hammurabi ("an eye for an eye" etc). Some of these were to pop up millenia later, as the Ten Commandments.

The City became famous again in the classical world, because Alexander the Great, died there. After a pierced lung, a gruelling march through the desert, and the loss of his closest friend.

A new empire, called the "Seclucid" was established there after his death, though bitter internicine wars, made sure it didn't survive very long. It's greatness was reduced in succeeding ages, and according to Pliny's later observations, it was a desolate dusty wilderness, and the site of the original City was unknown to most foreign travellers.

Saddam Hussein has rebuilt the city as a symbol of Iraqi national pride. Apparently 250,000 mud bricks were used, all individually stamped with his name. Unfortunately, politics being politics, we are not able to go and view the marvel for ourselves.

The Tarot image of the lightning struck tower is said to refer to the Tower of Babel. A structure built by King Nimrod of Babylon in our distant past. Hebrew legend has it that the Gods were angry at mankind for being so intelligent, and all getting on together. So they decided to mess things up for us. You can read more about it, in the old testament book of Genesis. The lightning striking the tower can represent either divine wrath, or madness.

Shamush "Sun Kissed".

(ruins of babylon)

"And the whole earth was one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a City and a Tower, whose top may reach unto heaven and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11

(tower of babel)

[ original stone tablet depicting map of babylon ]

Audio samples courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd.

BABYLON
Written and Produced by The Black Dog, Ofra Haza and Bezalel Aloni.
Published by Black Dog Productions / Madri Licence Music - GEMA.
Released by warner.esp - a division of Warner Music UK Ltd.

BLACK DOG PRODUCTIONS would also like to thank Bezalel Aloni, and all at warner.esp for sharing the vision. Webby (top Bass) and our canine chums for their incredible remixes; Peter Lazonby, Ant Hill Mob, Scanner, The Scourge Of The Earth, Future Loop Foundation / Michael Dog, Terminalhead, Jamac, (and the rest). Arty thanks to Pamela Roberson and Tim Frost for their kewl images.