Kourosh Yaghmaei Back From the Brink 3lp

3lp
2011/1973-79
new
Kourosh could supposedly play the santur upon first sight when he got one as a childhood gift. He started out in a teen garage band, and his two brothers were in his adult backing band (and yeah, all three of them have awesome moustaches). After the Iranian revolution of the late 70s, Kourosh was forced to be involved in music only peripherally & sporadically for most of the 80s & 90s, mostly recording children's books-on-tape or giving the occasional guitar lesson. He was even prohibited from publishing pictures of his face. Nonetheless, his feather-edged voice & enticing Perisan melodies were far too hypnotic to become entirely forgotten. Lots of echoey piano, but also electric bass, seriously languid fuzz solos, & the low-rent/trebly production style matches the pensive atmosphere pound for pound. Liner notes where Kourosh himself (seemingly answering a volley of emails) explains why Tehranians use the word 'jazz' for trap drums, how he still loves the Ventures, where he got the PA systems that his teenage band the Raptures used as amplifiers. He even talks about the deleterious effects that religion/politics can have on music. Tracklisting: Gole Yakh, Dar Enteha, Hajme Khali, Paiz, Leila, Del Dareh Pir Misheh, Akhm Nakon, Shirin Joon, Ghazal, Tavalode Yek Seda, Saghe, Entezar, Niyayesh, Sarabe Toe, Reyhan, Baroona, Mosafere Shar Baran, Khaar, Havar Havar, Ashiooneh, Bachehaye Khoobe Koocheh, Akhtare Asemanha, Tak Derakht, Share Cheshmat, Dokhtare Delkhasteye Shahr, Daas, Ghahr, Aabere Shab, Ghad Boland, Kei Toe Miayee.