CD Review: Meikhaneh's 'La maison de l'ivresse'

Meikhaneh
La maison de l'ivresse
Self-Release

France's Meikhaneh produces intriguing music inspired by Central Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. The group incorporates a little Central Asian throat-singing on "Jaran tsagaan aduu." Maria Laurent's sweet vocals and her stately morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) combines to form a unique blend of vocal and instrumental music. Maria is joined by Johanni Curtet on guitar, dombra, various chants, as well as Milad Pasta on tombak, daf, and udu drum. The music is more French inspired with wistful melodies and breezy vocals on "Mellekdal" and a more somber tone on "La fille qui tourne dans une piece blanche." "O leite e o pao" contains more of a flamenco or Portuguese flair. The final track, "Talyn theme," is an improvisational masterpiece with glorious instrumentation and enigmatic vocals that are sweet, sincere, and traditional. Meikhaneh is a group based in France, but their repertoire originates from other world regions. At any rate, Meikhaneh knows how to make an album that is entertaining, memorable, and highly-recommended. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Pezhham Akhavass 'Percussions'

Pezhham Akhavass
Percussions
Self Release

The San Francisco-based percussionist extraordinaire, Pezhham Akhavass, is a whiz at the tombak and daf. Primarily focused on Central Asian/Middle Eastern percussion, Pezhham presents us with a solo set of thirteen songs on various instruments without electronica accompaniment or vocals. In effect, the sounds of the percussion instruments are the voices of the songs. Pezhham plays the tombak, daf, damam, dosar kotan, frame drum, tamtam, finger bells, and udu. The songs are noted in rhythmic time signatures of 2/4--on up to 10/8. The Iranian dosar kotan instrument reflects Pezhham's ancestral background. The lack of vocals or additional instrumentation does not affect the musical project. Fans of Hossam Ramzy may be interested in the percussive sounds of Percussions. Pezhham does not miss a beat. ~ Matthew Forss