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
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