Muslimgauze - Iran [Soleilmoon Recordings - 2010]This is the second reprint of Muslimgauze's first foray into the world of compact disc back in 1988- originally it apeared under the Staalplaat label flag. Tribal, thoughtful, dynamic rhythms are the driving force behind this album. Brief, minimal synthetic melodies that occasionally pepper the tracks are all of the natural-minor flavoring, giving just enough of that exotic flare to boost the drums, which already drip with Muslimgauze's trademark Middle-Eastern theme. The melodies hide deep under the pounding rhythms, as if the drums were so powerful that not even the other elements of the songs could break them.This would be a major letdown, if not for the fact that the beats are incredibly varied and complex on their own, each featuring MANY sounds from a diverse yet very cohesive palette.
The album ends with a brief section of the drums far off in the distance and the sounds of field recordings taking in the song of birds and the rustle of trees on the foreground, it's a nice quiet and relaxing way to bring the listener back to ground after an intense 37 minutes of heavy tribal grooves
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