Reviews

Persiennes d’Iran

Atine

I’m often frustrated by the many talented female Iranian musicians, particularly instrumentalists, who don’t get the exposure and recognition they...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Turquoise

Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi

Mohammed Reza Ebrahimi is a virtuoso of the oud and Persian tar, and an instructor at the Music Conservatory of...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Çay Vakti

Yair Dalal | Project Suzy

This charming release features two of Israel’s most highly regarded musicians collaborating to showcase songs from the early years of...

Reviewed in issue November/2020

The Promise

Mehmet Polat

Turkish oud player Mehmet Polat further develops his style on this solo album with the help of others on traditional...

Reviewed in issue November/2020

Death of the Prophet

Sabreen

Readers may be familiar with Parisian oud player Kamilya Jubran for her collaborative work with Swiss based trumpeter and electro-pioneer...

Reviewed in issue November/2020

Mirror: Turkish Disco Folk

Arşivplak

Arşivplak, meaning ‘Records from the Archives’ has come out with an 11-track instrumental compilation of popular Anatolian psych tracks, mainly...

Reviewed in issue November/2020

Halak Halak

Zenobia

Snaking synth lines and exotic chord sequences collide with vigorous bass-laden beats and housey bedrock foundations, as East meets West...

Reviewed in issue October/2020

Enlighten the Night

Mahsa Vahdat

Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat has recorded an impressive series of albums – solo, with her sister Marjan Vahdat and with...

Reviewed in issue October/2020

The Rise Up

Mehmet Ali Sanhkol & Whatsnext?

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol already sings, plays ney, zurna and oud, but that doesn’t discourage this Turkish-American from penning The Rise...

Reviewed in issue October/2020

Semitics

47SOUL

It’s been said 47SOUL are a band rooted in the Palestinian diaspora. Surely ‘uprooted’ would be more to the point....

Reviewed in issue October/2020