The Lost Recording Season (1974-1978) - Vol

The Lost Recording Season (1974-1978) - Vol. 1 by SOHEIL, restored by Farbod, is a deep dive into SOHEIL’s career in Iran in the 70s. The artist mixed Iranian music with western influences to create something that was incredibly cutting edge and avant-garde. The restored tracks here aren’t just about reminding people of him and his career but also about reliving a time in Iranian life and culture.

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The project clearly has respect for that time in history and also for SOHEIL as an artist and I think because of this, the restoration feels incredibly stylistically faithful and genuine. Farbod has still sharpened up the sound in places to provide a listening experience which is satisfying to people who know the original style but also perfect for new listeners, generating this mix of nostalgia and novelty in the sound. The opening two tracks introduce the listener to SOHEIL’s tone with a positivity and energy which is hard not to smile at as a listener. There is a palpable sense of charisma and confidence created by the vocal performance and the strings use such a wide variety of techniques it enriches the sonic texture of the track beautifully. Shaayad O Baayad was the next track that stood out to me. It has a mixture of influences which heightens its sound. The drums are incredibly expressive, following the vocals as almost a secondary lead within the track. They manage to communicate emotion through their ever evolving cadence. The mixture between the vocals and the melodic aspects of the song creates this juxtaposition between the traditional and the cinematic in a manner which heightens each of them individually. My personal favourite on the project is Shahanshah. It feels like the perfect balance between the filmic, western influences and the traditional style. Something about its expressive and bold tone makes me think this track would also be excellent in the theatre, heightening the impact of a climax with its natural dramatic flair. This project is exciting in all the best ways. It’s true to itself but not afraid to innovate. Check it out below.