To celebrate the birthday of Imam Reza a brand new compilation is released. This various artist compilation is the first of its kind since its popularity peak during the rebirth of POP music back in 1997. Entitled “Hasht (8)” it features eight artists who each preform their homages to the eight Imam of the Shiites. Hami, Mohsen Chavoshi, Reza Sadeghi, Reza Yazadani and Ali Ashabi are the more famous stars in the line up. I have previously approached the religious POP phenomenon in the blog and the tributes to this particular holy icon in several LA-artists’ album reviews.

At the same time Benyamin Bahadori’s manger Rajabpour announced that he will be releasing a two-track single with both songs praising the eight Imam. There have been rumors about Benyamin creating an entire collection for holy icons, which is boosted by this recent announcement. This is not the first time Benyamin and his lyricist Farid Ahmadi have been creating religious POP hymns!

Hamid Askari’s follow up to the successful debut “Coma” is finally out after months of postponing. The album shares the same arranger as Benyamin’s “85″ and that is to be noticed in many songs’ resemblance and elements’ recycling! It’s not unusual with such kind of sequels in Western world of music in order to mark a return to a certain theme and style, however not as a direct follow up to a debut! “Coma 2″ even shares the cover design of its first part.

Following the recent medial attack by Sirvan on Reza Sadeghi’s professionality, the Khosravi brothers (Sirvan and Xaniar) have created an album for a Sadeghi sound-alike by the name of Behnam Safavi! The second song from the album, the title-track, has turned rather popular and created a buzz for this debut.

Note: thanks to Ahmad

After his successful performance together with Golshifteh Farahani and in association with filmmaker Babak Payami in Venice, around the time and place of the 66th Venice International Film Festival, Mohsen Namjoo is to release his brand new album “Aakh” in early October. The album is his third official release and his second offering outside Iran. The first exile album which was released and sold on Namjoo’s official website was “Jabre Joghraafiaa“.

Note: photo courtesy of Babak Payami

Helen has released her new album “Fasle Man”, with a horribly designed cover! You can also buy a COMBO edition with a DVD of four music videos. Released on a (to me) new record label Top records.
http://musicboxla.com/hefamancd.html

Shahrzad Sepanlou whose blog I have recommend before seems to be back blogging after a break, take a listen to her beautiful tribute to Neda.

And while you’re at it check out her brand new album “Tō”. If I’m not mistaking this is the international album she has been working on a few years now.

Note: thanks to Ahmad.

Jhanvieh has released a new EP entitled “Gorg (Wolf)” and a song called “Khon Asham (Vampire)” in relation to the recent events in Iran. You can download the song for free from this link.

Lovely Anahita of Jhanvieh

You have heard this trio’s songs in our music section and watched their videos as well. 7th Music Band started of as a 13 piece band 10 years ago and perhaps due to their initial number of bad luck (13) they have been constantly struck by bad luck ever since! Member after member has left the band and the band name “Seven” which was registered when the band had seven members seven years ago was given to the other boy-band instead! Seven became eventually a trio but kept their seven-based name for the luck linked to the number. So its safe to suggest that this is a rather superstitious band!lol Recently they released their debut album “Baa To Mimoonam” which has now been reissued in improved quality. The music is reportedly kept in same soft POP/ROCK style as the first released songs, since the public response to those was so positive says the band. I really like the album cover, its really refreshing especially with recent album covers such as Benyamin’s in mind. But what’s interesting is that the band specifically refer to their appearance on the album cover as completely natural, without striking a pose for the shot! I however am not too sure about that, if thats not a conscious pose then I don’t know what is! And keep in mind that this is a professional poser talking!lol

Arash’s album “Donya” never got any considerable commercial attention in the Swedish market, it has been available for less than $10 in most Swedish stores the past six months. Now the album is being reissued as “Deluxe Edition” with additional tracks in order to try to cash in on the recent EUROVISION performance with AySel. Something I highly doubt will work in Sweden, considering the mild medial reaction to the song and this year’s EUROVISION SONG CONTEST in general. This however will work in East-Europe and Caucasus, Arash’s commercial niche in other words. I just wish they had changed the cover, or at least improved it instead of further ruining it with clumsy artwork alteration!

Track-list: Intro, Donya (Single Version), Always (Single Version), Suddenly (Radio Edit), Miduni Midunam, Pure Love, Kandi, Dasa Bala, Doset Nadaram, Joone Man, Chori Chori, Laf Laf, Tanham, Naro, Pure Love (Mary Angel Remix), Donya (Payami Short Remix), Kandi (Payami Remix), Always (Payami Remix), Suddenly (Topaz Remix), Pure Love (Mintman Remix).

Got this press-release the other day, sounds like an interesting project which should be supported!

“Compilation Album of Iranian Underground Music to be Released

London, 19th May 2009 - The first in a series of compilation albums tapping Iran’s
thriving underground music scene will be released worldwide in July 2009.

UK-based Bar-Ax Promotions has teamed up with USA indie record label Bamahang
Productions to release this music series in order to help give worldwide exposure to
the struggling underground musicians in Iran.

Despite the many restrictions imposed by the Iranian government on art in general,
the music scene has been increasingly active and has grown to encompass a wide
variety of music styles including Blues, Progressive Rock, Heavy Metal, Fusion,
Jazz, Rap and Hip Hop.

While most of these bands and musicians are still active in Iran, the government
does not allow them to record, publish, or perform their music in public. This is
partly due to the uncompromising nature of their music and lyrics in tackling social
and political issues. However, even simple romantic themes are also frowned upon by
the Iranian government.

The refusal of these musicians to stay within the undefined red lines of
self-censorship in Iran makes them outsiders to the circle of favoritism and
government backing which a limited number of groups have been able to enjoy in
recent years, allowing one of them to go as far as recording with 80’s pop
star Chris De Burgh with government approval.

This music series aims to introduce Iranian underground musicians to the outside
world and to provide a unique portrayal of what goes on musically and artistically
in basements and private home studios in Iran, in the face of government control and
restrictions.

About Bar-Ax (www.bar-ax.com)

Bar-Ax is an independent cultural organization created to boost the freedom of music
in Iran and to enhance the artistic freedom of its musicians. Our aim is to be a
major knowledge and promotion centre for the contemporary and alternative
(non-mainstream) music of Iran, and to propagate and enhance the position of
Iran’s musical life, both nationally and internationally. Bar-ax also assists
filmmakers and producers from Iran in distributing their work to representatives of
TV stations and festival programmers, and arranging for their participation in
prominent film and documentary events.

About Bamahang Productions (www.bamahang-productions.com)

Bamahang Productions is the leading record label and music production company
dedicated to promoting Iranian alternative and underground music. Relying on its
huge grass-roots network of musicians and music lovers worldwide, Bamahang
Productions has managed to produce and promote many Iranian alternative musicians
and bands, most notably Kiosk (www.kiosk-music.com). In July 2005, Bamahang
Productions released Kiosk’s debut album “Adam Mamooli (Ordinary
Man)” which became the first officially released and copyrighted music album
from Iran’s underground music scene on CD and available for Digital
distribution on iTunes.”

Siavash’s “Seven” is finally released! After almost seven years in the making and an ongoing underground hype! One could think that the title is based on the years its been in the making (it might even be marketed as such in media), but it had “Seven” as the working title even back then. Siavash Shams’ was the first full-fledged Western style heartthrob and POPSTAR to be introduced to the Iranian market back in 84. He enjoyed the same fame and popularity that the boy bands of the 90’s would come to enjoy! The guy had the talent and the looks, however having Alireza Amirghassemi and Farokh Ahi behind the concept and album ensured the success. The debut “Dokhtar Irooni” and its mellow and extended Ahi-POP songs is still today listenable and enjoyable. The last ten years the Iranian industry has been a hotbed and competitive arena for young good-looking Iranian male singers, these were more-or-less absent by the time Siavash appeared and ruled! However a decade ago a young sound-alike appeared inside Iran, in the aftermath of 2nd Khordad and the legalization of the domestic POP, a man by the name of Shadmehr Aghili who soon came to shake off the sound-alike label when the original source of emulation went off the map! Siavash did a very independent attempt to comeback with the album “Sedaa” seven years ago, however neither the album nor the marketing was strong enough to succeed. I don’t think that you can easily source a copy of the album these days, since you couldn’t seven years ago! Anyways, good to have “Siavashe Sahne” (in the Iranian fashion of dubbing artists he got that after the release of his album “Sahne”, however many came to think that it was his surname!lol) back!

http://musicboxla.com/siavashseven.html

The new Black Cats album is out, called comic-scientifically in a typical BC-jargon “Dimbology” (The science of Dambal-Dimbol, I guess) with a whole new line-up! It looks like the younger the members get the harder Shahbal has to keep them together for more albums! Kamran and Hooman-fronted edition released two albums, barely! The Kamyar-fronted edition released only one before the guy went solo as predicted! It should be mentioned though, as a fan of the Pyruz-fronted edition I see a lot of influences in today’s underground music. Take acts like Sasi Mankan for instance, if you listen closely you hear so many references to the style of Black Cats’ rap-flavored bilingual songs from the 90’s!

http://musicboxla.com/blcadi.html

By now you must have heard the samples on his official website. Sirvan Khosravi releases the follow up to the reported commercial failure, but ironically incredibly popular debut album (which makes the equation add up in illegal downloading!). During these past years Sirvan has created and produced for other domestic artists, making a living according to himself,  while his fans have eagerly been waiting for the new direction of his own music. Since he two years ago announced that he would abandon TRANCE for something new. Sirvan has recently said in the press that he hardly listens to Iranian music and that his musical favorites are Elton John and Eros Ramazotti. The new album has been in the making since 2004! There is an incredibly innovative and colorful presentation for the new album on his website, sadly the artwork of the album is far from this piece!

Sirvan’s younger brother Zanyar who goes under the stage-name Xaniar (X is phonetically read Z, like Xanadu) and had a creative role in his brother’s debut is back with an equally creative part in the current album. Xaniar has recently aspired to a solo career and some of his songs and videos have been distributed online without legal permit, mainly via his brothers website.

Benyamin Bahadori’s follow up to the best-selling “85″ is finally released after years of postponing due to him reportedly having felt pressure and wanting to digest the overnight success. The new album is accordingly named after its release year, namely “88″. The album’s track listing is longer than average, but many titles are not full-length tracks but rather demos of songs that might or might not be developed into full-lengths at a later stage. Benyamin realizes that people’s taste has changed in these past three years, but so has his he claims. He acknowledges the competitive market and feels excited to join the crowded industry once again, with another potent album to challenge both legal and illegal productions. Benyamin has plans for domestic and international concerts in 1388.

Finally some random facts about Banyamin according to the interview in “Chelcheragh”: He considers himself an intellectual and a huge fan of LOST the television series, who sees many similarities between the character “Sawyer” and his own personality. Benyamin also claims that Hamid Askari has cleverly imitated his musical style, but taken his vocal style from somewhere else (implying Shadmehr).

Shahab Tiam’s follow up to his successful debut “One” is finally out! I’m really pleased to see the cover, not just because I happen to have a similar jacket!lol The composition, the color coordination and the letterings are perfect for a portrait-cover! “Zarabaan” is now available in the Bia2 store. Click here to buy the album.

Sirvan Khosravi’s fans should be notified that a new collection of his arrangements has been released! The album is the debut of Amir Yeganeh, entitled “Bi To Tanhaam”.