Blimey: Björk and Omar Souleyman have collaborated on a new 12″, CD and digital release.

Syrian superstar Souleyman (pictured) has become a cult sensation in the West since the intrepid Sublime Frequencies label started releasing his work and bringing him over to perform his inimitably high-octane live show. It’s unsurprising that Björk, famed for having a pair of adventurous ears, has taken an interest, but we didn’t dare dream that the two might actually get in the studio together.

Well, they’ve gone and done exactly that. We don’t know much about it – only that it’s “the first ever major western pop release to feature Syrian dabke and Iraqi choubi music” [via Pitchfork] and that it will be released sometime in 2011.

Meanwhile, Souleyman has the following live dates lined up for the coming months:

March
5 Perth, Australia, Perth International Arts Festival
6 Melbourne, Australia, North Cote Social Club
9 Brisbane, Australia, The Hi-Fi
11 Adelaide, Australia, WOMADelaide at Botanic Park
12 Sydney, Australia, Annandale Hotel
June
2-5 Austin, Texas, Chaos festival
9-12 Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo festival
August
5 Katowice, Poland, OFF Festival
6 London, England, Field Day Festival
September
8 1 Isle of Wight, Bestival