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Thread: Avantgarde music from Iran

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    Avantgarde music from Iran

    Hi all,
    Kinda new to this website, been a fan of Prog music all my life, Wondering what you guys think of this crazy rhythm from an Iranian avantgarde musician, Mohsen Namjoo
    https://open.spotify.com/track/0rFf0vYMEXgOm0NRgjXaMA

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    Man of repute progmatist's Avatar
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    Music in general from that part of the world tends to be avantgarde. Not just rhythmically: in Arabic music, there are 4 quarter tones between each of our 12 tones.
    "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama

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    I agree, in Persian music the scales are even more complicated than Arabic, This artist is known well to mix the Persian scales with western music

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    Member Munster's Avatar
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    Buddahbreath would have been all over this but he hasn't been seen on this forum for months now. That is a shame as he had loads to say and his input was always interesting. Perhaps he will return. I hope he wasn't excommunicated by the moderators as there were some heated exchanges going on around that time (in early lockdown)
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    Instrumental version


    Last edited by Zeuhlmate; 10-15-2020 at 04:50 PM.

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    Member Lebofsky's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by progmatist View Post
    In Arabic music, there are 4 quarter tones between each of our 12 tones.
    Nitpick (sorry): By definition there is only one quarter tone in between the 12 western tones. Remember that the difference between, say, C and C# is a half step. So halfway between C and C# is a quarter step. So there's only 24 quarter tones per octave.

    I often perform/compose music with quarter tones, so I just want to clear that up.

    - Matt

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    Man of repute progmatist's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lebofsky View Post
    Nitpick (sorry): By definition there is only one quarter tone in between the 12 western tones. Remember that the difference between, say, C and C# is a half step. So halfway between C and C# is a quarter step. So there's only 24 quarter tones per octave.

    I often perform/compose music with quarter tones, so I just want to clear that up.

    - Matt
    Only if one thinks in terms of half tones versus whole tones, which only exist in western 12 tone music. In Arabic music, there literally are 4 semi-tones between each of what we would call a "half tone."

    BTW: even in atonal western music, the concept of whole and half steps goes out the window. Atonal music is unconstrained by diatonic key structure.
    Last edited by progmatist; 10-16-2020 at 05:01 PM.
    "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama

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    Member Mascodagama's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zeuhlmate View Post


    Instrumental version


    As nobody has commented on the actual music of Mohsen Namjoo yet, let me just say: this is rad. I will be investigating further.
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  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by 127drums View Post
    Iranian avantgarde musician, Mohsen Namjoo
    Thx for posting this!
    "Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
    "[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mascodagama View Post
    As nobody has commented on the actual music of Mohsen Namjoo yet, let me just say: this is rad. I will be investigating further.
    Regarding his music:
    He has over 13 records and they are VASTLY different in style, they go from complete traditional Iranian to folk to folk/pop to some crazy stuff. assuming you're more into prog type of music I would recommend these songs:
    Khashm kardam
    Bad'e Vazande
    Haftat
    Toranj
    Darda

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    Quote Originally Posted by Scrotum Scissor View Post
    Thx for posting this!
    Thank you

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    Quote Originally Posted by 127drums View Post
    Regarding his music:
    He has over 13 records and they are VASTLY different in style, they go from complete traditional Iranian to folk to folk/pop to some crazy stuff. assuming you're more into prog type of music I would recommend these songs:
    Khashm kardam
    Bad'e Vazande
    Haftat
    Toranj
    Darda
    127drums Thanks for the original post and thanks much for these suggested tunes. The youtube video for Khashm Kardam is quite a trip - reminds me of old 60s LSD influenced media but modern of course and it is a really nice tune. So are the others. An interesting artist - this Mohsen Namjoo.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kenny View Post
    127drums Thanks for the original post and thanks much for these suggested tunes. The youtube video for Khashm Kardam is quite a trip - reminds me of old 60s LSD influenced media but modern of course and it is a really nice tune. So are the others. An interesting artist - this Mohsen Namjoo.
    Thanks, Glad you liked them

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    ^^^
    Sounds good.

    (Urban myth floating around Tehran is that if you listen carefully you can hear the Grand Ayatollah murmuring "Paul is dead", backwards).

  15. #15
    If no one minds a brief tangent of sorts...this has been in rotation at my place for a while now and for those who enjoy this style of music (both the Iranian flavor and the overall genres), it's pretty wonderful stuff:

    https://unexplainedsoundsgroup.bandc...ss-2cd-edition
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  16. #16
    I listened to "On the thread of the tear's bow" - it's cool.

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