Sello Modular described the album as follows:
“Introducing a groundbreaking collaboration between Kasra and Sadegh, an album that transcends time and space. Drawing inspiration from ancient Kurdish rituals dating back 4000 years, their composition for tanbur and electronics merges the traditional with the modern.
In this remarkable fusion, the resonant melodies and figures of the tanbur intertwine with the innovative electronic elements composed using Csound, a cutting-edge music language program. The result is a captivating sonic journey that defies boundaries, both spatial and temporal.
Despite being physically separated, with Kasra in Canada, Sadegh in Iran, and their publisher in Chile, their shared passion for music unites them across continents. This album serves as a testament to the power of art to connect people and cultures, showcasing the boundless possibilities that arise when ancient traditions meet contemporary technology.
In this remarkable fusion, the resonant melodies and figures of the tanbur intertwine with the innovative electronic elements composed using Csound, a cutting-edge music language program. The result is a captivating sonic journey that defies boundaries, both spatial and temporal.
Through their collaboration, Kasra and Sadegh invite listeners to experience the emotional and sensory richness of their composition. The album transports audiences to a realm where the past and present coexist, where the echoes of ancient rituals resonate alongside the pulsating beats of modern electronic music.
This album is a celebration of the boundlessness of art and music, a testament to the enduring nature of cultural heritage, and a reminder that creativity knows no borders. Join Kasra and Sadegh on this extraordinary musical journey that transcends time, space, and expectations.
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Endorsement by Amirhossein Tafreshipour, Tanbur Master
“The album “ERODING” is remarkable from three aspects:
1. The interpretation of the tanbur player from ancient tanbur maqams (modes) of the Goran tanbour: These maqams are the result of translating the ancient music of Horeh and Moor (commonly found in western Kermanshah) onto the tanbur. Horeh is a kind of primal human sound inspired by drawing inspiration from the sounds of nature such as the sound of the wind or the sound of birds, and usually has a vocal range of one or two notes. Its collision with the tanbur music of Yarsan (with a history of at least 1000 years) created the specific music of ancient tanbur modes 300 years ago. Sadeq Kia’s performance of this ancient collection, while remaining faithful to its old narrations, especially the interpretation of Master Ali Akbar Moradi, possesses a unique sonority and virtuosity. His background in playing the Daf(sophie’s drum) in the Kurdistan Sufi traditions has enriched his repertoire.
2. New and innovative extended techniques on tanbur and using prepared tanbur, such as harmonics (flageolets), slides, the use of metal, tapping, and muting, are entirely meaningful in the context of both ancient music and tanbur narration and contemporary point of view.
3. The trajectory of music recreation and narration. With his experience in playing the tanbur and co-production in the “Hetra” music album, alongside a progressive rock band, it seems that he has now recreated the maqam narrations into a more mature musical form, in the context of the electroacoustic and contemporary form.
On the other hand, the composition of this album by Kasra Faridi and the electronic sound synthesis, in line with the ancient vocalizations and the development and expansion of Sadeq Kia’s innovative interpretations and sonarities, indicates a modern interpretation of ancient Iranian myths, especially the tanbur as a storyteller of a six-thousand-year-old plateau.
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