Audio By Carbonatix
The members of Secret Chiefs 3 may not actually be part of some obscure, underground Muslim music scene, but they sure sound like they are, with their appropriation of Arabic and Persian musical styles, if not necessarily instrumentation. Mr. Bungle alumnus Trey Spruance is the main architect of this band’s sound, and his keen understanding of how to push rock instruments beyond their normal bounds has kept the music consistently interesting. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan may have been the most famous figure to have mixed Sufi devotional music with rock, but Spruance has made that fusion prominent in the avant-garde. If Alejandro Jodorowsky ever decides to film a biography of Helena Blavatsky (the mystic behind the moniker), Secret Chiefs 3 should be on the short list to score the soundtrack.
Will you step up to support Westword this year?
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.