Customer Reviews

Hashisheen-the End of Law

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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The Hashisheens were a small sect with assasination missions put together by Hasan-i-Sabbah in 1090 a.d. Using the delights of a literal Garden of Pleasures that he built where "free women" and cannabis were abound, he was literally brainwashing his troops while they were on trance and assigning them missions.
The Hashisheen were feared because of their dedication and loyalty to Hasan and because they opposed both Islamic as well as Christianic figures of the time.
In this incredible album, the original texts left behind by Hasan are read by artists such Iggy Pop, Anne Clarke or William Burroughs and Patti Smith to name but a few, while the musical layers accompanying them are a gracious mix of psychedelic dub and trip-hop (allthough it's actually an injustice to try and categorise the music here). Basically, the music serves as an eerie and often spacey ambience for the texts themselves.
The end result is impressive to say the least. Ok, this isn't an album that you would use as a background sound, but then again, the people who would buy it wouldn't have any such intention to begin with.
It's an album to listen carefully to and travel back with it. Or, it's an album to give to a good friend.
A must for serious music lovers and a must for those who can appreciate stories from the deep past that seem unreal and yet have indeed happened.
The booklet that comes with the CD is another asset: you get the texts that are read in the album plus a historical background of Hasan and his sect who had a motto as intriguing as :"nothing is true and everything is permitted".
...Great work.

A unique project, of interest to anyone who studies the underground theories of Robert Anton Wilson (mysteriously absent, hmmn....), William S. Burroughs, Aurther Rimbaud, Peter Lamborn Wilson, Hakim Bey, and many other folks who are non-coincidentally included in the cast of this strangest of all tribute records. I mean paying homage to Led Zepplin with stale cover tunes is one thing, but an N.P.R.-esque sound collage from a lot of the usual mystical terrorist set, extoling the virtues of a Moslem heretic's methods for disposing of Christian Fanatics is pretty esoteric to pretentious for anybody. Some tracks fall flat on their face, but when they do work, like Patty Smith's Morning High, it is more than a listening experience. Occasionally stiff, but contain some wonderful moments for the Dark Spirituality/Politcal fringe crowd. Probably something Mulder would listen to on the way home from the office.

A very exotic music and narrative journey into the misterious Islamic eresy of the Hashisheen. One of the most interesting works by Bill Laswell about narratives, poems and legends inspired music. The contributions by various artists reveal a interesting common ground of thinking between them. Finally the influence of S. Burroughs book "Western Lands" is clear.

"The End Of Law" continues the tradition of telling the legend of Hasan-i Sabbah and his Assassins but through the form of the recorded spoken word. Bill Laswell, the Jim Carroll of unique, almost underground music, changes his name here to Hashisheen and delivers an album of large scope and intellect. Students of ancient texts and literature will admire it, as will fans of the beat poets and ambient music. Laswell knows his stuff and it shows in the fact that names like William S. Burroughs, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop lend their voices, and if Jim Morrison were still alive he would have probably read a text or two as well. Historians of the Sabbah story and myths will admire the fact that sources like Marco Polo and Arthur Rimbaud are used and those who love the famous "Alamut" novel will also be impressed by the skill and insight found in the CD. In a sense "The End Of Law" is not just an homage to the Assassins tales but a celebration of language and poetry mixed with music. It is an album filled with history and the fine craft of storytelling. Stand out tracks include "The Western Lands," where Burroughs introduces and Iggy Pop recites some Burroughs writings on Sabbah and his Assassins sect with some original thought and ideas thrown in about Sabbah's personality, Techno Animal provides a cold, atmospheric canvas of sound here. "Marco Polo's Tale" is a fascinating track with Eastern melodies abound as Hakim Bay delivers some of what Polo reported concerning Alamut and the Assassins, a lot of it considered myth by historians. Many of the tracks are hypnotic in their use of sound and words like "Morning High" where Punk poetress Patti Smith delivers a passionate, intense reading of a Rimbaud work complete with angels of ice and fire. I will not reveal more, this is one of those albums the listener must discover. "The End Of Law" is a masterpiece because it is completely about the language, about the words and images. This album can even appeal to someone who is not familiar with the history of Sabbah and his Assassins, anyone who enjoys poetry, classic literature and history will like this album. Here's one for both college professors AND the rebellious teens who like to read Jim Morrison poetry.

This is magical, Great album. Esoteric, full of magical legends about The Assasins and The Old Man Of Mountain. It interesting with decisions, with textual and musical material which are represented from William S. Burroughs to Arthur Rimbaud and Nasir Khusraw an ismaili poet (d.1060) .....narrated by Burroughs, Iggy Pop, Genesis P. Orridge, Hakim Bey...... and music written by Bill Laswell, Paul shutze, Techno Animal, Jah Wobble.... it request a whole your intellect not only your musical ears....i was and were very excited by this album and i know it by memory...listen....enjoy.... it's gives birth to many questions,but answers hides in this no ordinary album.... "Take one step outside yourself - the whole path lasts no longer than a step" (Shah Nematollah Wali)

Great conceptual album, with the participation of inumerous quality artists. Brings a completely new perspective to the theme of Islam and Hashish.

Laswell will bring you on a journey back in time. If you like laswell's work, this spoken word album should find a place in your collection.