Moradi, Ali Akbar & Bahar Movahed, “Goblet of Eternal Light”
(Traditional Crossroads, 2012) ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN Reviewed by Abu Ramses

New versions of traditional Iranian-Kurdish music from the Kermanshah area composed by tanbur (long-neck fretted lute) virtuoso Ali Akbar Moradi. Vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Bahar Movahed was trained in Persian classical music, which blends Arab improvisation and hypnotic Indian drones & rhythms. She returned to her Kurdish roots & studied with Moradi. The album offers new versions of songs in several Kurdish dialects sung by Movahed in a controlled, precise style leaning to the Arab element. She now lives in Los Angeles (Iran-geles), & practices dentistry. All worth a play. English translations in the CD booklet.

Tracks
**1. The Desire of Union – Tanbur intro, then vocal solo & chorus; “The flood water of the interior has uprooted the soul and stolen the hoard of patience.” Lyrics by Mowlavi-e Kurd, the Kurdish counterpart to Rumi - 6:45
***2. Autumn – Intricate tanbur intro, then plaintive vocal solo - 6:16
**3. Goblet of Eternal Light - folksong from Iraqi Kurdistan; big tar; more Indian sound; solo & chorus - 6:28
4. The Song of Allah Waisey – Slow solo vocal; another poem of Mowlavi-e Kurd telling the dervish that it’s time to get the party started - 5:40
5. Goblet of Wine - New arrangement of poem by Sayyed Saleh Kermanshahi about lovesickness; steely, stately, minor-key intensity - 8:09
6. The Remainder Allah Waisy - 3:07
***7. Beloved – Mamoosta Naali poem; big instrumental intro; solo vocal lets it rip; rhythm rarely used in Kurdish music - 5:48