A taste of Iran...
Ramin Marghi | Dubai, UAE | 06/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Yet another great album from Anoushirvan Rohani to serve as a feather in Iran's cap. Beyond the actual compositions in this piece lies the intrincity with which it's performed. The advanced melodic techniques in these solo piano pieces are somewhat mind-boggling for most of us novice piano players. The tyrannical trills, crazy left and right hand melodies/counter-melodies... everything! Some may complain of repetition usage in most of his pieces, however I'll go out on a limb and take a different perspective, the Iranian perspective. Iranian music revolves around repetition in specific segments of songs, yet variates even in these repetitions, so it shouldn't be taken as the common understanding of repetition, but rather similar to the repetitions in dances and poetry. Below is a break-down of the tracks:1) Reminiscence of Life: A crazy 10 minute track which shows off some really great Iranian-style piano innuendoes. Simply divine in execution.2) Separation: A very nice piece beginning as though it seems rather hesitant, but then takes it's steps into the melody with a sense of confidence. Some traditional Persian key changes in this one. Altogether a good piece.3) Nava: Okay, here's a rather arbitrary track. Although extremely beautiful, it is rather... erm... what's the word for it? Random? As the second 10 minute track, this seems way too non-melodic to not be ambient. This track I find myself skipping sometimes.4) Pretext: I simply adore this piece! Very... flamenco! I'm completely enraptured with it's tempo and key. THIS is what Anoushirvan's the best at!5) Sincere: Again, a few Spanish elements can be picked out here. This piece seems to me to be sort of like a stereotypical Anoushirvan piece. Similar to how some Yanni songs are just like other Yanni songs. Lacks a specified melody, but raised my eyebrows in some tricky piano segments.6) Coquetry: This piece lives up to it's name! It's seemingly a piece that provokes and intices you in some parts. Moves into a gorgeous melody which brings a smile to my face.7) Moonlight: Very much not like Beethoven's sonata, that's for sure! This one seems to be a chill-out-esque tune. If you sit down and listen to it, it ACTUALLY can have a blue effect on you. 2 minutes near the end, there's a beautiful piano "dramatic" style brought in which really does kick up the tone of this song.8) Loving Whisper: This piece sounds very much like fluttering objects in the voids of sorrow. Indeed it does seem like a whisper that travels through the air to the lover's ear then spins in his head indefinately. Some Russian-like style in the execution of this piece.9) Enchantment: This six-minute epilogue to this CD serves it's purpose well: to leave you with a bit of Anoushirvan in you. Goes from a slow-like pace to a fast one in the twinkling of an eye. This perpetuates for the duration of the piece, and ends in a very ending-like finale. A final bow, so to speak.All-in-all this CDs definately for you if you're a fan of Middle Eastern new age and/or Anoushirvan. If you're new to him, however, this piece might not sink in the right way. For those newbies, I recommend his 'Love Melodies' CD."
