The Iranian government recently asked lifelong friends and musical compadres Shahin Shahida and Sepehr Haddad to do a concert at the National Theatre of Tehran to celebrate the Persian New Year in March 2003. Combining their soulfully rhythmic and melodic, guitar-based exotica with exciting Persian elements, the music on their sixth Higher Octave Music recording beautifully anticipates this return to the land of their heritage (Shahida is a native, Haddad was born in Washington, D.C, of Iranian parents, and grew up in Iran). The provocative collection, their first studio recording since 1998's
World Café and first overall since 2000's retrospective
East-West Highway: The Best of Shahin & Sepehr, finds them looking back whimsically at the world they left behind but whose culture and inspiration is still an ever-present part of their lives, musically and otherwise. They explore their Persian heritage on collaborations with Iranian-born musicians who play such native instruments as the sarrod, oud, and santur. The duo weaves a sense of percussive nostalgia on tunes like the bluesy flamenco rocker "Morooz," the wild and brassy title track, a steel guitar-flavored trip to the Spanish countryside called "Fellow Travelers," and the steel guitar- and organ-enhanced "The Journey Back," whose multiple rock and exotic textures capture the homecoming experience. There are also two songs dedicated to Shahida's baby daughter, Lily: the lush, folksy ballad "Good Night Moon" and the festive and tribal African celebration "Pictures of Lily." ~ Jonathan Widran