Monajat
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
An artist who is carrying on a familial tradition, Galeet Dardashti is the granddaughter of Younes Dardashti, a Persian legend in the area of classical music, and his work is illuminated here with much attention to detail.
“Melekh” opens the listen with Younes’ distinct vocals, before Philip Mayer’s unique drumming enters the rich climate, and “Adon Haselichot” follows with Max ZT’s flowing dulcimer alongside Galeet’s expressive, soaring pipes.
Further along, “The Awakening” emits Eastern influenced melodies that are quite pretty, while “New Year Invitation” showcases Galeet’s powerful pipes amid plenty of atmosphere thanks to Zafer Tawil’s percussive techniques.
The title track arrives near the end, and brings back Younes’ inimitable vocals that are acutely fascinating, and “Im Afes (In Early Morning Tehran)” exits with a vocally strong and very cultured finish of poetic song craft.
Younes was known as “The Nightingale of Iran,” and these selections are preserved well in Galeet’s care, where the detail of his work is very much present, yet with some modern touches that are aesthetically exciting.
Travels well with: Plena Libre- Cuatro Esquinas; Michela Musolino- La Notti Triunfanti