This Pale
Lycopod, 2021
8/10
Katayoun Goudarzi, an Iranian-American singer, and Shujaat Husain Khan, a sitarist and an esteemed Indian composer, pair up here for 6 age-old love poems of Rumi, where appearances by Shaho Andalibi on ney, and Shariq Mustafa’s tabla provide even more allure to the cultured, emotive tracks.
“Wild” starts the listen with Khan’s intricate sitar work alongside Mustafa’s well timed tabla, as Goudarzi’s pipes enter 2 minutes in and bring much elegance and expressiveness, and “One” follows with Andalibi’s ney acrobatics leading the song into a precisely textured climate as Goudarzi’s diverse vocals show much range.
“Tender” lands in the middle, and focuses on the sitar, as Khan injects a very poetic quality, while “Sweetest” displays superb ney navigation amid the complicated sitar and subtle tabla.
The final 2 tracks, “Still Here” and “All I’ve Got”, continue the worldly theme, as the former finds a dreamy place to reside with the gentle singing, and the latter exits the listen with all the players taking their turn in the spotlight on the mesmerizing and absorbing finish.
The motivation for the album stemmed largely from all the hate and xenophobia present following the President elect taking over in 2017, which was very concerning for Goudarzi and Khan. Rumi’s work covers a wide array of emotions, and Goudarzi and company certainly retain that human spirit in their interpretations with a spiritual, haunting and often moving experience that unfolds with profound beauty.
Travels well with: Esbe- Under Cover; Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble- Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble