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Reviews

Review of Gecekondu

Gecekondu

Baba Zula

Doublemoon

Rating: ★★★

There is something regal in the music of Baba Zula – the elegant, yearning vocals of Elena Hristova, the stately...

Reviewed in issue March/2011

Review of I Vine Speil (In the Mirror of Wine)

I Vine Speil (In the Mirror of Wine)

Mahsa Vahdat & Skruk

Kirkelig Kulturversted

Rating: ★★

Mahsa Vahdat is one of the most courageous and enterprising of contemporary Iranian singers. Courageous bec ause despite restrictions on...

Reviewed in issue March/2011

Review of Mozafar Shafii & the Râst Ensemble

Mozafar Shafii & the Râst Ensemble

Mozafar Shafii & the Râast Ensemble

Ocora

Rating: ★★★

Iranian singer Mozafar Shafii was an early student of the well-known Mohammed Reza Shajarian. So Shafii is senior to the...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2011

Review of Rewend

Rewend

Aynur

Arista/Sony

Rating: ★★★★

On this album, Aynur gives us what is probably her more satisfactory effort to date, due especially to the well-thought...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2011

Review of In the Name of the Rose

In the Name of the Rose

Dastan Ensemble with Hamid Motebassem & Salar Aghili

Celestial Harmonies

Rating: ★★★★

As one of the most innovative and prolific contemporary Iranian classical music ensembles to emerge since the early 90s, Dastan...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2011

Review of Nedaye Asemani

Nedaye Asemani

Shahkilid

Muziekpublique

Rating: ★★★★

The spiritual but contagious excite¬ment that we have come to associate with Iranian classical music is abundantly present on this...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2011

Review of Mounqaliba

Mounqaliba

Natacha Atlas

World Village WVF479048

Rating: ★★★

Natacha Atlas’ last album Ana Hina [reviewed in #52] was an extremely well judged step away from the Middle Eastern...

Reviewed in issue October/2010

Review of To Scratch Your Heart: Early Recordings from Istanbul

To Scratch Your Heart: Early Recordings from Istanbul

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Honest Jon''s Records HJRCD48

Rating: ★★★★★

One of many surprisingly delightful Middle Eastern releases of the last two years was Honest Jon’s compilation of remastered Iraqi...

Reviewed in issue October/2010

Review of Oy

Oy

Mohsen Namjoo

Fabrica Music STR70013

Rating: ★★

Mohsen Namjoo has created quite a buzz in Iran in recent years, initially as a singer-songwriter pushing the boundaries and...

Reviewed in issue October/2010

Review of Songs of Rebirth: Tribute to Rumi

Songs of Rebirth: Tribute to Rumi

Ali Reza Ghorbani

Top of the World

Accords Croisés AC122

Rating: ★★★★

The world outside of Iran has been comparatively late in coming to recognise Ali Reza Ghorbani as part of the...

Reviewed in issue October/2010

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