Smile of Sun: Folk Music from Lorestan

Lorestan is an area of western Iran with its own language and culture; it's a region celebrated for its kamancheh (spike fiddle) players. Singer Nezam Rajabzadeh feels that Iranian policy has been to attempt to homogenise the country and repress regional dialects and cultures. The Luri people represent about ten per cent of the country's population and Rajabzadeh, with the help of an excellent Norwegian record label, wants to show the world some of the region's music.

Rajabzadeh sings with an ensemble of various plucked strings, supported by kamancheh and tombak (drum). The songs are spirited and strong, particularly the closing ‘Bahare Porgol’ with a strong dialogue of vocal and kamancheh, but there's no information about the repertoire or any translations. This is a shame when the aim is trying to spread the word about the music of Lorestan. The most successful tracks are the folky, kamancheh instrumental tunes ‘Do Pah/Sepah’, played by the talented Bahman Faryadras.