This hypnotic collection of tanbur workouts by Kurdish musician, Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian, is finally seeing a vinyl release this October, and preorders are available now.
Originally released last year on cassette by the great Radio Khiyaban label, Songs of Horaman will now be reaching a wider, global net of listeners, as it deserves, thanks to an astounding 4-way co-release effort between Khiyaban (for European listeners), Centripetal Force (for American record buyers), Cardinal Fuzz (for the UK folks) and Ramble Records (for Australian listeners).
The release features Heydarian slipping into entrancing extended tanbur improvisations, sometimes solo and other times accompanied on percussion by friend Behzad Varestah. The music is a blend of maqams (an Arabic melody and technique of improvisation) and traditional tasnifs (a type of Persian ballad), but it cycles and slithers like a live Elkhorn jam. Fans of meditative improv music, like the ragas of Basho or Shankar, would absolutely appreciate this record.
A since of longing and warm remembrance flows throughout these tracks, which may be because Heydarian is most inspired by thoughts of his picturesque childhood home in the mountainous region of Horaman, in Western Iran. Just give a listen to “Tarz Suite (Narrative to Seyyed Arash Shahriarti),” and envision the tightly packed city, the snow-capped mountains (see below) and ancient carved rock reliefs of Heydarian’s homeland.
A stunning release from start to finish, if you’re an improv music fanatic, then this is for you. Click here to preorder the LP on vinyl if you’re in the US, here if you’re in the UK and here if you live elsewhere in Europe. If you’re one of our Australia readers, them please check in with Ramble Records for your copy today.
-KH
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