I Remember Syria

I Remember Syria is a distillation of the long-form audio document of the same name, recorded by Syrian Cassette Archives founder Mark Gergis during travels across Syria between 1997 and 2000, and originally released by Sublime Frequencies in 2003. Featuring field recordings of street scenes, weddings, radio broadcasts, cassette music, advertising jingles, and conversations, the original work emerged from an attempt to document everyday life beyond the political narratives through which Syria and the wider region has been (mis-)understood. Rather than a historical document, it was conceived as an auditory snapshot of the country at a particular moment, seeking to recreate the aural experience of being there. The cassette material woven through the soundscape comes from the same period: songs, jingles, and the label announcements found at the end of the Syrian tapes that circulated through those same streets and years. Revisited through the lens of Syrian Cassette Archives, these recordings reveal the musical and social worlds from which they emanated, excavating the different layers of Syria’s sonic landscape to create a dialogue across time.

Field recordings made by Mark Gergis in Damascus, Abu Kamal, Aleppo, Arwad Island, Deir Ez Zor, Hama, Hassake, Lattakia, Maloula and Tartus - with contributions from Erik Gergis. Assembled 1997–2026. I Remember Syria ℗ Porestsound. Additional material from the Syrian Cassette Archives collection. 

In memory of Linda Sharif.

Tracklist

0:00 – Damascus Between the Lines

8:00 – Duelling Cassette Kiosks - Near Hejaz rail station, Damascus

8:56 – Suleiman Al Shaar, Tartous. Excerpt from wedding party cassette, issued by the Nasreen label, Hama, 1997

11:42 – Sawt Al Hafez cassette label advertisement

12:01 – Evening Petrol Call, Aleppo

13:25 – Radio Abu Kamal

14:35 – SELIN film advertisement, Syrian radio, 2000s; Syria Haj Umrah services ad, Radio Damascus, 2000s

15:36 – Honest Brokers, Umayyad Mosque, Damascus

17:43 – Damascus Radio

19:21 – Sawt Al Diwar cassette label advertisement

20:05 – Jazeera Folklore. Excerpt from ‘Thulathi Al Furat... Al Tahaddi’ (The Euphrates Trio...The Challenge), Al Atlal label, 1997

22:00 – The Way It Must Be – conversation with shop attendant in Aleppo souk

24:15 – Gomidas Band, Aleppo. Excerpt from a 1980s cassette

27:23 – Al Faiha’a cassette label advertisement, 2000s

28:11 – NICE Tissues, television advertisement, 1990s

28:45 – Sonic Suriya. Radio and recordings from Dier Uz Zur, Damascus and Abu Kamal

33:27 – Fariha Al Abdullah (Homs). Excerpt from ‘Dabke From the Wedding of Mustafa Al Haj’, 1990s cassette

36:47 – Multi-Interior, Dier Uz Zur outdoor market and Aleppo Umayyad Mosque

39:09 – Youth Radio of the Syrian Arab Republic

40:48 – Abu Sultan, Daraa.Excerpt from cassette compilation of local Hourani music issued by Sawt Al Ghad, 2000s, Suweida

43:05 – Walid Al Salhani, Damascus. Hadra 6 (Sufi chant) excerpt. Issued by Nagham Al Sharq Recordings, 1990s

44:13 – Duraid Lahham, Damascus. Waddi Al Musk (Series Soundtracks) excerpt, 1970s

45:34 – The Noiras of Hama (Blood Irrigation on the Orontes)