Dream

US-based bandleader of Mitra Sumara, Yvette Massoudi, covers 60s and 70s Iranian pop. Notably she pays tribute to the popular female pop singers Ramesh and Googoosh, and the more Persian traditions of Pari Zangeneh. She turns some of the former two’s most danceable songs, and a ballad by Zanganeh, into electropop tracks, which are now popular at the New York-based Disco Tehran organisation, who organise Iranian music and dance events.

The music emulates how an Iranian/Persian pre-1979 revolution progressive funk-pop band may have sounded. Joyous remakes for carefree dancing, as well as a moment of nostalgic longing, while dreaming about better times for the nation. Massoudi’s voice stands out. However, the accompaniments are somewhat monotonous in atmosphere. For instance, the trombones and drums generate brassy funk effects, but also somewhat lead to uniformity. One or two tracks with a different ambience would have been welcome. But it is great to hear ‘Talagh’ in this treatment, a cover of the legendary Googoosh song of the same name, which borrowed the famous riff from ‘Heaven on Their Minds’ from the Jesus Christ Superstar musical with added contemporary EDM flavour.