V/A Iranian Music Survey – Anthology Of Persian Experimental Music Vol. II (Album – Unexplained Sounds Group)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, Dark-Ambient, Abstract, Cinematographic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Italian label Unexplained Sounds Group moves on its sonic travel exploring distant and often unknown music scenes from this planet. This new compilation featuring fourteen tracks brings us back to Iran; a country featuring talented Experimental/Ambient artists. So this second volume features a few familiar names –most of them already got featured at the previous compilation, like Alphaxone, Xerxes The Dark, IDFT and SpectroDuo, but still new names.
Artists: Shahin Souri, Force Ignore, Ali Ostavar, Varkâna, Soheil Soheili, Xerxes The Dark, IDFT, Solatipour Reza, Sohrab Motabar, Ali Latif Shushtari, Alireza Amirhajebi, SprectroDuo and Alphaxone.
Content: The sampler brings a diversified spectrum of the Iranian underground scene related with Experimental, Industrial and Dark-Ambient music. Some artists are featuring some typical Eastern atmospheres –due to the use of traditional instruments, on top of their work, but globally speaking it’s fascinating to notice the ‘Western’ approach in the use of field recordings and the global Abstract format of the music. Some passages are extremely Experimental while other artists are featuring more ‘classic’ Dark-Ambient music.
+ + + : I remain an unconditional supporter of this compilation series, which each time again let us discover new names and talented artists. The presence of Alphaxone and Xerxes The Dark are there to remind us of the growing status of the Iranian scene. They both deliver a dark exposure to this compilation and especially the final track from Alphaxone is a great Cinematographic composition. Among the other artists I’ll mention Force Ignore for its somewhat lamentation style emerging from the female chants. The opening piece by Shahin Souri is another great discovery, creating a tormented and chilling electronic atmosphere. Solatipour Reza is another artist to watch out for, dealing with a mystic piece that has been slowly built up.
– – – : I’m not that into Experimental music and this compilation is definitely more into this vein than its predecessor.
Conclusion: Iran remains a prolific ground for Experimental music and related genres so this new volume in the label series is a welcome gift to enlarge our sonic horizon.
Best bands: Alphaxone, Xerxes The Dark, Force Ignore, Shahin Souri, Solatipour Reza.
Rate: (7½).
Label: www.facebook.com/unexplainedsoundsgroup
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