By Nouria Bah
Elm Staff Writer
Various Artists//Pomegranates: Persian Funk
Everyone likes to get down to his or her favorite tunes from the 60s and 70s. However, not many of these funky jams are from Iran. The album Pomegranates can fix this for you. It provides the essential mix of the greatest tunes from a country that is not especially well known for its music scene.
Before the Islamic revolution and rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who banned all contemporary music, Iran had a flourishing rock scene. There was also great support of the arts from the government especially through the Shiraz Arts Festival which was held from 1967 to 1977. This festival included music, dance, and theater from both national and international artists allowing for appreciation and international exchange of arts in the country.
Pomegranates feature the results of these exchanges and fusions. From slow, warm folk ballads such as “Cheshm-E Man” to sexy, funky string section refrains on “Mosem E- Gol,” each track keeps you hooked on the great orchestration of such familiar and foreign sounds.
The compilers of this album, Arash Saedina and Mahssa Taghinia searched through their family’s vinyl and CD collections to present the most memorable tunes that truly represent the Persian funk scene in a great light. So add this to your old school funk collection and get down to some great Iranian grooves.