Soul Raga: Anthology

The music is wonderful!

Excellent.

Get to know a true music artistry genius from the least likely time & place you’d expect! Iranian music from the pre doomed Islamic revolution of 1979 has become a pure delight to the ears of millions across the world. It is mostly because no one expected such magnificent and quality music from that part of the world from that time, almost half a century ago…!! It is also because of many talented artists and voices from that era who introduced an array of superb sound and rhythm to the western world. It is incredible to hear that such modern music were produced in Iran 50 years ago, a land of one thousand and one years of history and rich culture behind it… Persian music sounds so distinctively unique among its neighboring regions, it’s not Arabic, nor it sounds Indian or Turkish, however, Mehrpouya stands out alone among other Iranian music, whether classical, traditional or modern pop music of the 70s. With his deep, passionate voice and his musical taste which was more global than traditional Persian flute or Santur, this 3 LPs collection represents almost his entire work throughout 60s and 70s. Try listening to it and you’ll be surprised to the melodies which sound universal and boundless . This music will captures your heart and soul.

Abbas Mehrpouya - Soul Raga Over the past few years I have been getting into music from the Middle East and this one was just too much ! "Sick" as my kids say !!! Mehrpouya according to transcripts of the Persian مهرپویا was born ايراايران مهرپويا (Abbas Mehrpouya) in Tehran (1927/1992). Abbas was a Poet, translator, actor, guitarist, sitar , santur and organist who wrote some early trippy-groove based ragas that will blow your mind. Basically "soul raga" is a 2 CD compilation from his 45's, compilations and sole LP released. Many of the songs actually on this CD have not ever appeared before and likely not heard much outside of Iran. If you are a fan of the Big Jim Sullivan album "sitar beat" or love to groove to Ananda Shankar's 1970 marvellous debut sitar-pop album then you will love this album too! Soul raga is a wild compilation ranging from smooth and silky sitar vibes to full on sitar-laden funk outs! The song "African Jumbo" is worth the price of this album alone...talk about a trip! Some of the songs are instrumental and some have vocals.......Abbas has a great deep and assuring voice which works very well with the tablas, flutes, pots and pans and sitars. This is the perfect taxi soundtrack album of all time for my money !!! Brilliant .....hypnotic.......exotic and a very cool album !