Eastern melodies and electronic dance beats come together in the world of the R.E.G. Project. The initials R.E.G. represent the three Beirut, Lebanon, DJs that make the group: Ralph Khoury, Elie Barbar, and Guy Manoukian. Barbar and Manoukian had already been working together, and when they heard Khoury spinning at the chic Beruit club Circus, they decided to ask him aboard. The first 12" from the three, "Harem," was a local hit and eventually caught the attention of Paris DJ Claude Challe, the man behind the Buddha Bar compilations. A collection containing nothing but R.E.G. Project music, Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge, was released in early 2003. By the end of the year the group was successful enough to drop the Challe endorsement off the cover and released II under their own name. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide