V/A Iranian Music Survey / Anthology Of Persian Experimental Music (Album – Unexplained Sounds Group)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, industrial, dark-ambient.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: This compilation was originally released in a digital format in 2016. There were some ‘political’ issues with Iran because of the original title “Iranian, Experimental Music Survey”, the compilation being black-listed. The compilation has been now re-released as CD format featuring twelve artists and songs while the digital edit featured eighteen artists.
Artists: Alphaxone, Xerxes The Dark, Idlefon, Bicolor, Spectro Duo, Nyctalllz
Content: We all know Iran from our history books, but we often forget this country also has a very active and interesting underground scene. Bands like Idlefon, Xerxes The Dark and Alphaxone became praised and successful names of the dark-ambient scene. This album sounds like a magic trip throughout the underground scene of Iran and more especially of its capital Tehran, where most of the bands are located. This is a real diversified release revealing multiple intelligent sound treatments by bands like Alphaxone, Bicolor and Umchunga, but also more experimental treatments from bands like Idft plus industrial-inspired formations like Xerxes The Dark, Nyctalllz and Spectro Duo. I also have to mention the minimalism from Tehransmission.
+ + + : I can imagine this re-release was not an easy thing because of the current political situation. I really have to express my gratitude to Raffaele Pezzella (label owner) for his devotion, passion and commitment. This compilation is not just dark-ambient music. It especially reveals an impressive sonic welfare of a country, which clearly seems to produce intelligent and passionate sound architects transposing ambient music into a real creative exposure. Next to a few familiar and established names I discovered several talented formations, which I hope will progressively find their way towards the West. I like this kind of conceptual release giving us an idea about the underground ambient-scene from one specific country!
– – – : I was less convinced by the more experimental artists from the sampler. Just a little regret some great tracks by Elemaun, Xsix and Hami Keivan aren’t featured on the CD format.
Conclusion: This compilation series remains to me the most educative one from the underground scene! What a Brilliant concept to connect people via music!
Best bands: Alphaxone, Tehransmission, Nyctalllz, Umchunga.
Rate: (8½).
Label: www.facebook.com/unexplainedsoundsgroup
About Unexplained Sounds Group
Unexplained Sounds Group is an Italian label run by Raffaele Pezzella, focused on experimental, ambient and industrial music from underrepresented scenes worldwide. This “Iranian Music Survey” compilation is the first volume of the series, originally released digitally in 2016 and reissued on CD in 2020; it was followed the same year by “Anthology Of Persian Experimental Music Vol. II”, featuring recurring contributors Alphaxone and Xerxes The Dark.
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