Abdi Yamini has left us

I was just told by my good friend and your fellow review reader Shahab that Abdi Yamini has passed away! Shahab has been a fan and friend of Abdi Yamini’s and many years ago created a website dedicated to the life and work of the maestro. Abdi Yamini whose epic arrangements have been heard in many songs by Dariush, Ebi, Aref, Hatef, Shahyar Ghanbari and Mansour left LA for a life in Iran half a decade ago with minor musical activities, however recently he had moved to England where he once recieved his masters. Abdi had a very unique signature style which created an airy Pink Floyd-ian ambience in the songs. His range can best be heard in Mansour’s debut album “Ferferehaaye Bibaad” and Dariush’s “Bachehaaye Iran”! Abdi Yamini died at the age of 56, rest in peace maestro!

Finally a cover worthy to grace her album!

Shakira is one of the female singers who has an annoying habit of gracing her albums with horribly designed covers! Despite being a naturally endowed and attractive girl, she always uses the least flattering angles or crazily cropped images for the cover. And to me a lame cover with a wasted potential is even a bigger sin than a lame cover with no potential to begin with! The annoyance it causes can even put me off buying the product! Or I’d buy it and hide it away somewhere it can’t be seen again, ’til I’ve forgot the tragedy and can focus on the music! You might think I’m kidding but I’m not!lol So it is a pure pleasure to see that the cover of her upcoming “She Wolf” album is to be an exception!

This “exploitation” inspired cover and the video that comes with it, adhere to the rules of aesthetics and the chosen theme very well. For instance the ill-red rigid lettering cuts through the earth tone color-scheme, however it does so in accordance with the exploitation genre and to serve the purpose of the theme. Even the cover of the single is thought through! Well done girl! Well done!

Bought for the cover

I have previously mentioned that as someone who is interested in cover art and design I sometimes buy albums just for the sake of the artwork, without having a clue about the kind of music it contains! La Roux is my latest purchase of such kind. I just love the composition, the color combination and lettering. Very chic, 80’s style. The face and hair also remind me of my good friend Lena. Now remains to be heard what the music actually sounds like! If it is the Electro-POP that the cover conveys, or not!

Richard brings Sirvan to Holland!

My good friend Richard is like I’ve written before more enthusiastic and supportive of the domestic POP industry than any Iranian I’ve ever met! Including myself! This Dutch gentleman has many times before attempted to introduce our music to the Dutch media and public and his recent attempt seems to have slam dunked! Being a Sirvan fan (as hardcore as he is I’d say “devote”!) he has managed to convince the FunX Radio in Holland to consider giving Sirvan’s songs airtime! The station has asked its listeners to chose one of four songs to be given rotation. Dank je wel, Richard (hope I’ve spelled the dutch correctly, since you beat even me in nitpicking!lol )!

Sheybani passed away

The legendary talent discoverer, lyricist, composer and producer Jamshid Sheybani passed away in Los Angeles! This artistic entrepreneur was one of the Persian POP music’s visionaries and pioneers. Watch this video clip from Parviz Gharib-Afshar’s TV show in which he presents the Turkish diva Emel Sayn to the Iranians in a song of his own played by the keyboard prodigy Anoushiravan Rohani. This particular clip is one of the most memorable moments in the history of Iranian popular culture!

May his multi-talented soul rest in peace.

related news!

note: thanks to Siamak

Namjoo sentenced to five years in prison!

Mohsen Namjoo has reportely been sentenced to five years in prison for his controversial use of verses from the holy Quran!

News:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=100593§ionid=351020101

BBC interview in response:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/07/090713_maf_iran_namjoo.shtml

Previous blog posts in this regard:

http://www.bia2.com/pourya/?p=607

http://www.bia2.com/pourya/?p=623

http://www.bia2.com/pourya/?p=629

Note: thanks to Siamak

Aref’s song for freedom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwcLU3c-jq8

Jhanvieh brings you Wolf and Vampire

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.

Photo: lovely Anahita of Jhanvieh.

Aslani for Neda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyN9QLX5hv8

Madonna’s “Get Stupid” live with images from Tehran protests

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZecgiAd4urQ

Satrapi does Pop

After Iggy Pop’s voice over on the English version of “Persepolis“, Marjane Satrapi returns the favor by illustrating the recent album of the old PUNK icon. I had seen the cover before the release, but wasn’t aware of it being the work of Satrapi. You can’t really say that the cover reminds of her style or that its a clever image for a cover, it looks more like the cover of a random Jazz/Latin American album. Even though the music of this album is rather Jazzy its still Iggy Pop and this cover isn’t! I like the interior design and illustrations (like the portrait of him on the vinyl cover) however, which are closer to her personal signature style! The set above is the numbered limited edition, click here to order from French amazon.

note: thanks to Siamak

Askari and Sadeghi postponing further

Hamid Askari and Reza Sadeghi’s albums which were postponed due to different reasons are put on hold ’til further notice. Askari’s company say that their decision is caused by the latest socio-political events in the country, which will prevent the album’s exposure! Reza Sadeghi’s company present their reason the fact that the album leakage was caused by thieves breaking in to Sadeghi’s home and stealing his computer! Until the investigation goes on the record will remain unreleased.

Wyclef singing for Iranians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDamiltM56A

Yeganeh to record in Tarkan’s studio

Mohsen Yeganeh is heading towards Turkey to record his next album in Tarkan’s private studio! The album has changed working title from “Taboot” to “Taghaas”.

U2 goes green in solidarity with Iranian freedom movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR8d1qM-GqE

Andy and Don Was on “Stand by me”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQ8b2UJdwE

United For Neda by Mams Taylor Ft. Iranian artists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykyxikVRvZg

New Release: 7th Music Band - “Baa To Mimoonam”

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

Siavash’s song for Neda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gF-SNw3rOI

Siavash Shams has just released a song in memory of Neda, the young girl who got brutally murdered in front of our eyes! The song can soon be downloaded for free from siavash.com.

Andy and Bon Jovi singing for Iranians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW6zJ3B-uos

By the way, on a funny note! A childhood friend of mine contacted me and reminded me that I once, apparently 20 years ago, had predicted a duet between Andy and Bon Jovi! hahaha! Now that I think of it I recall having said that! However I said Andy and Kouros, so I’m not quite qualified to be proclaimed the new Nostradamus yet! hehe

Aspiring Asrar

Mohammad Reza Asrar is an aspiring young artist from Vancouver who is working with Kayvan of the PERSIA band on debut material. Here is a candid performance, I personally find him and his Farhad-inspired flavor and Ghanbari-an lyrical jargon promising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTUQG9t_cGM

Faded phenomenon

By now you have all heard the news! I was never a fan of Michael Jackson, not because of the circus his life had become in latest decade but rather because his voice and music didn’t strike a chord with me. There was always something about his image that put me off, mainly the collision of his androgynous attributes and extreme macho moves which was manifested in his post-BAD image. I couldn’t buy it as authentic, when he sang a love song I didn’t find his vocal-style credible enough. Nevertheless I highly admired and respected him as the innovator and icon he once was. He was a phenomenon! The man basically revolutionized the POP music and incorporated dance into the art. You did no longer need to be either a dancer or a singer, you could be both! So influential worldwide that even Ayatollah Khomeini himself damned him as the Satan’s lackey! Young dancing artists such as Justin Timberlake, Usher, Sisqo, our very own Kamran and Hooman and many many others alike still today imitate his trademark dancing style. R.I.P. Jacko!