Decent roots music from Iran (Nine Heavens - Niyaz)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Nine Heavens - Niyaz
Date:	21/11/08 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relaxing

Disadvantages: Lack of understanding when it comes to the lyrics

Niyaz is an Iranian band based in the US - the brainchild of vocalist Azram Ali who was born in Tehran before moving to India as a small girl. Niyaz (which means yearning) in Persian or Urdu are a traditional sounding band and if they were a kebab they'd be rather mild - that's to say that they are not fused with a great deal of modern sounds.

Though I have absolutely no idea what any of the album is about, the oriental Persian sounds are rather relaxing yet somewhat upbeat and the changes in intonation and speed of the tracks seem to tell a story which are usually rather comforting and somtimes dramatic even if you have no idea what they are about! It is supposedly sufi poetry sung in a more modern vanacular for the people of today.

Having seen sufi dancers in Egypt once, they seem rather more grumbly (though that could have been due to spinning around for about 20 minutes) than the sparkling voice of Azam, who has an unbelievably clear voice and always nails the note, however high extremely well.

It's not all her work though and she is helped heavily by cross-over Iranian guitarist, saz (bit like a sitar) and rabab (an arab world ancestor of the violin) player - Ramin Loga Torkian and producer, sythezier and keyboard player Carmen Rizzo.

Enjoyable but more on the relaxing side than anything.

Disc 1

1. Beni Beni
2. Tamana
3. Feraghi - Song Of Exile
4. Ishq - Love And The Veil
5. Allah Mazare
6. Iman
7. Molk-E-Divan
8. Hejran
9. Sadrang

Disc 2

1. Allah Mazare (acoustic)
2. Beni Beni (acoustic)
3. Sadrang (acoustic)
4. Tamana (acoustic)
5. Feraghi - Song Of Exile (acoustic)
6. Hejran (acoustic)
7. Ishq - Love And The Veil (acoustic)
8. Molk-E-Divan (acoustic)

Summary: Good stuff