Together Yet Alone
Adhyâropa, 2026
9/10
The Iranian born singer Bahar Movahed is aligned with the Tehran composer Navid Deghan for these 9 songs of Persian music that employ many players for the cultured listen.
The quick pace of “Early Spring” opens with the flowing strings radiating much grace and warmth, and “In Grace Of Flight Part I’ follows with 12+ minutes of gorgeous singing and rich instrumentation, where the oud and santour shine.
In the middle, the festive mood of “Minstrel” is percussively strong and textured with harmonics, while “Your Lips, Part I” allows for Movahed’s expressive pipes to help illuminate the often sparse but impactful musicianship.
Arriving late, “Your Lips, Part II” is a darker moment of sublime strings and emotive singing that carries mystery, and “Jest” exits with a lively demeanor thanks to the vibrant musicianship, where the well timed ney makes an impression.
Movahed now lives in California, and the long distance project with Dehghan in Tehran required a year of rehearsals through an app before flying to Tehran for 3 days of studio time. The result is a spiritual and emotional experience of Iranian music that’s enlightening and timeless.
Travels well with: Ezra- Whippersnap; Jeremy Bass- Cabin Songs