Zelzeleh : by Rich Wexler
Audio
Press
Bandcamp November 2024 Roundup (Ley Lines)
“Ashk Haye Moghavemat—Farsi for “Tears of Resilience”—combines the gravitas of traditional Persian vocals from Kamyar Arsani (Faraway Ghost) and the electroacoustic rhythms of percussionist Ravish Momin (Sunken Cages), in a tribute to interconnected struggles against oppression worldwide. Arsani’s daf (frame drum) flourishes complement subterranean kicks programmed by Momin, encircled by a vortex of synthesized and woody percussive textures on “Maro”; “Threnody for the Children” layers somber vocals over an idiosyncratic kick rhythm in triple time, a paean to the over 11,300 children killed by the Israeli military since last October, 30% of whom were younger than five. Momin’s polyrhythmic live-looping, informed by his jazz education with the likes of Andrew Cyrille and global club rhythms, creates a scaffold for Kamyar’s vocals to travel through various dastgahs (modes in Persian classical music), morphing into searing punk rock growls.”
ArtBlog Philadelphia, May 2024
“Weaving dense samples, electronic beats, and an otherworldly tribalistic rhythmic cadence, Sunken Cages’s world is populated by the sounds, sights and spirituality of a cyberpunk India-by-way-of Philadelphia. It’s the upcoming team-up with Faraway Ghost that promises to expand on this aesthetic, furrowing into darker territories. Having appeared on Sunken Cages’s Turning Jewels into Water LP, this new project sees a collaboration with Faraway Ghost– Iranian multi-instrumentalist and sound crafter Kamyar Arsani– that could break our tiny, noise-laden, experimental corner of the internet. The duo’s set from a semi-recent Fire Museum gig at the Rotunda is the perfect encapsulation of their “mysticism for cyborgs” sound – both artists locked in frenetic call and response, pushing the boundaries of tech-infused spiritual folk music for a century the planet may not even see.”
Press Release
Zelzeleh is a new project from Momin and Arsani. Their collaboration combines vocals inspired by Persian poetry and Punk Rock along with global rhythms that are layered over intricate electronic soundscapes. Arsani’s mastery of Persian classical modes (dastgahs) and his evocative vocals merge seamlessly with Momin’s polyrhythmic live-looping. Together, they create a unique sound described as “Digital Sufi Music.” The duo is signed to Akuphone Records (France) and debuted their full-length album “Ashk Haye Moghevemat” in November 2024.
Kamyar Arsani is an Iranian multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter based in Washington DC. Through his solo work and numerous collaborations, Arsani creates music across an array of styles, ranging from classical Persian music to genre-defying electronic experimentation. A teacher, performer and scholar of the daf (the Iranian frame drum). Arsani has been a featured artist at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Voice of America, Georgetown University and numerous other stages throughout the region. Along with his solo work and collaborations, Arsani is also the singer and lyricist of Time is Fire, a pan-cultural punk band.
Sunken Cages is the moniker of drummer/electronic music producer Ravish Momin, who studied with US Jazz master-drummer Andrew Cyrille. He has worked as a sideman with a wide array of musicians including US avant-Jazz legend Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre (AACM/Chicago.) In addition, he has also led his own Jazz/global group Tarana on international stages for the past 14 years.As Sunken Cages, Momin plays electronic and acoustic drums. He layers loops while manipulating them in real-time to blur the lines between composition and improvisation. While rooted in Indian and Black Music traditions, he is also influenced by the street sounds of underground dance music from Sao Paolo to Durban to Mumbai and beyond.
Photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TiITLiZwMI83mh0w70cNDGs0t1-xda_K?usp=sharing