Reviews

RAAZ

Hooshyar Khayam & Bamdad Afshar

Like an intoxicated dream, the sounds of provincial Iran and the wider world warp and meld into a feverish blurring...

Reviewed in issue March/2021

Touch of Freedom

Arya Aramnejad

Exiled from his native Iran for a song denouncing the Islamic regime, Arya Aramnejad now makes his music in Stockholm....

Reviewed in issue March/2021

Guitar Duos of Kemal Belevi

Duo Tandem

Kemal Belevi is a Turkish Cypriot composer and guitarist. Though his Cyprian Rhapsodies Nos 1-4, Suite Chypre and Turkish Suite,...

Reviewed in issue March/2021

Azerbaijani Gitara

Rüstəm Quliyev

As well as a hot contender for this year’s Most Charmingly Naff Cover Photo award, the inside of this album...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Silver Sanctuary

Zedashe Ensemble

Zedashe are an accomplished polyphonic choir from Georgia, based in the fortress city of Sighnaghi in the wine-growing area of...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Oriental Music

Omar El Shariyi (Ammar El Sherei)

This vinyl-only remaster of the now cult classic album originally released by Cairene label Soutelphan back in 1976 celebrates two...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Café Türk

Café Türk

This LP is one of the most welcome releases of the year, and the story behind it is a heart-warming...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Soundplaces

Derya Türkan & Sokratis Sinopoulos

Derya Türkan is a Turkish player of the Klasik kemençe, a three-string fiddle played on the lap, while Sokratis Sinopoulos...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

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