Part of an article on U2.com, about U2's songwriting/recording stint they are currently doing in Fez, Morocco:
"One track they’ve been working up sounds like a soul song with distinctly Arabic rhythms. Another is an epic story-telling piece which seems to run for seven or eight minutes. This time, as the music stops, the birdsong is in competition with a local muezzin, calling the people of Fez to prayer.

‘It’s kinda nice to bathe in making music like this,’ explains Larry. ‘Normally we have to get a song finished but here we’re going through lots of different ideas, finishing out some, getting them to a certain point and then leaving it to see what might happen…’
At this stage, he says, no-one knows what will happen to the work – which is partly why it is so enjoyable. And the exotic location brings its own spirit to the music.
‘It happens wherever you are. If you’re in France or Dublin, you pick up what’s in the atmosphere. Fez might seem a strange choice but sometimes, to write the songs, you just have to get away from all the things that interrupt your day.’
Some days local musicians, percussionists and fiddlers, are also in the house, adding to the songwriting mix. And elements of the music are being informed by the distinct Arabic music scale.
‘They don’t do 4/4,” says Larry. ‘They work in 5/4 and 6/8 and 3/4. They work in very complex rhythms so it’s very interesting for us to be a part of. It’s definitely a learning curve for us…” "

Oh wow, the two main musical influences/loves of my life are converging: U2 and arabic/middle-eastern music!

They will so need a bellydancer on their next tour :D
(Well, a girl can dream!!)