Âwât

Having met in Marseille in 2016, Shadi Fathi (setar and shurangiz) and Bijan Chemirani (zarb, daf, percussion) have cultivated a busy partnership, performing together across Europe, and composing new pieces based on their mutual love of Iranian music. Following their debut album, Delâshena, the pair return with Âwât (meaning ‘Great Desire’ in Kurdish), a new set of compositions that draws upon Persian poetry, as well as being an active effort to combine plucked strings and percussion with bowed strings and wind. As such, the core duo is joined by Redi Hasa (cello), Sylvain Barou (duduk, bansuri, kaval, zurna) and Shervin Mohajer (kamancheh spike fiddle), lending the album a true ensemble feel.

Largely instrumental, the 16 pieces that comprise Âwât are occasionally punctuated by Fathi’s spoken word recitation of poetry by Omar Khayyâm, Rumi and several contemporary Persian authors. The instrumental writing is exceptional throughout, with Chemirani’s compositions navigating an array of labyrinthine modes, both melodic and rhythmic – particular highlights being the 10/8 of ‘Âsâyesh’, and the spiralling 5/8 of ‘Tchâbok’. Fathi also doubles on daf (frame drum), lending weight to percussion-heavy pieces such as ‘A Tash e Del’ and ‘Afsâneh’ – the latter being a beautiful meditation for percussion duo and Barou’s multilayered bansuri (flute). Between Fathi’s hypnotic spoken delivery, Chemirani’s engaging compositions, and the stunning instrumental sensitivity of all five musicians, Âwât is a deeply introspective work that flawlessly captures the mysticism of Persian art forms.