New label Discotchari kicks off with a rare psychedelic groover, having uncovered an entire deadstock run of this ‘45, still in the factory boxes from 1970.

They’ve repackaged them as their exciting first release and are bringing previously unheard material from Armenia’s John Bilezikjian – who is known as a forward-thinking oud player – and Raja Zahr, a Beirut drummer who played on a range of now collectors’ classics.

The collective at Discothari say: “Something Different produced a lone ’45 together that ended up getting shelved as the artists’ respective solo careers took off.

“Taking turns on lead, a barely 21-year-old John Bilezikjian plays a variety of strings – including oud, bass and harpsichord – alongside young Raja Zahr,  showcasing his talent in an arsenal of percussion.”

It’s a fantastic package indeed that as been brought to the light – originally on Nose Records in 1970 – and is available now on 7″ vinyl or digital download.

“Zulu Man is a final breath of psychedelic 60’s air,” the label reports. “…leaning more towards the obscurities of Gandalf and King Crimson than the soundtracks of the decade like Led Zeppelin’s debut or Are You Experienced? The song is more epic poem than psych rock, measuring an African shaman against the weight of the world while John’s oud pulls on the listener’s heart strings.

“Chemical Reaction defies genre; it is the theme to its own world of sandy landscapes and scorching sun. Lawrence of Arabia meets Hawaii Five-O; Cleopatra meets Baywatch, the scenarios are endless when it comes to properly categorising the high times and low lunges this track can create on a dance floor.

“If it weren’t for the love that John and Raja each had for their roots, their musical careers might have evolved differently together and Something Different could have been a familiar phrase for fans of The Eagles, Pink Floyd, and other introspective bands.”

The LA-based collective at Discothari plan to highlight the stories and sounds of Armenian and Middle Eastern music. They also host a fantastic radio show with Dublab.

Zach Asdourian, one half of Discotchari, was executive producer on the Yeraz VA compilation in 2021. It raised money for families displaced from Artsakh, Armenia, due to ongoing conflict involving Azerbaijan.

It provided a choice overview of Armenia’s contemporary electronic music scene.

Visit the Discotchari Bandcamp.