The one and only Helen is back again after her musical hiatus of nearly 4 years to bring us some winds of change, a new season, her season… “Fasleh Man” is Helen’s newest studio album and it has been a long way coming for those who eagerly awaited the follow-up to her stellar “Negaaheh To (Your Glance)” album released back in 2003. Although Helen went on to release “Khaaghaalik (Toy)” in 2005, this Armenian album was more of an artistic ambition for her and not so much a commercial release that one would expect.

After switching record labels from Avang to Top Records, Helen’s new work finally saw the light of day and she has managed to grace us with her vocal prowess that seems to grow even more silky and smooth with each passing day…

1. BIDAARI – The album starts off with a track that just screams Helen… A light and delicate, almost spacey, electronica beat leads to a song crafted around lush orchestral melodies, guitars, and a flute instrumental that carries the overall romantic feeling portrayed in the song’s production. Helen’s voice does acrobatic maneuvers throughout the track and this song is very reminiscent of Helen’s more classic tracks. The song is a perfect summer day song to just lay back to and listen with your loved ones.

2. HESSEH TAAZEH – “Hesseh Taazeh” is a breath of fresh air following a more traditional and formulaic song format like “Bidaari”… This song is a true pop gem and the chorus of the track through to the bridge in the middle is where Helen truly shines. Although the track is simple and nothing groundbreaking, it is still effective in getting you to move…
3. DOBAAREH TO – The next track begins with a rather unique and undulating arabesque rhythm, which flows over a strong techno beat… It grabs your attention from the get go and you are thrown through such a euphoric song. The chorus is sublime and the song stands out amongst the other pieces in the collection. Helen’s key changes and her ability to hit high notes are showcased here so flawlessly…

4. TARDID – With “Tardid,” Helen goes on to experiment with some soft rock. The ballad is very bare in its combination, which allows her emoting and the message to truly show… I love the electric guitar riffs throughout the track and the production is fantastic and this sort of song style suits her sweet voice very well. I hope she continues to dabble in this genre a bit more.

5. MARDEH ROYAAI – When I heard this track I was immediately drawn back to the good old days of the mid 90’s when I felt that music in general was in its prime… The composition of this song is very retro but sounds, surprisingly, very fresh even for today’s standards. I really enjoyed the use of synthesizers throughout the track as they make the overall piece have a nice mix of old and new musical creation.

6. VAGHTI TO NABAASHI – This song showcases what Helen knows how to do, and that is SING. This ballad, also sounding very retro in its composition, is truly a testament to Helens powerful vocals. The real surprise is in the chorus, where the formulaic structure of the ballad is changed and gives the song modern appeal; however, it still maintains is classic feel as well.

7. ZENDEGI – This song is the true masterpiece of the album. When I first listened to this song I was blown away… Who would have thought that Helen would take a classic Pouran song like “Raasti Cheh Zood Migozareh” and change it into one of the gheriest and danciest tracks I have heard come out of the Iranian music industry in such a long time. The song’s composition is perfect and I really enjoyed the techno breaks throughout the pseudo-bandari arrangement of the piece. This song has wow factor written all over it and is flawless.

8. MSHOSHARAN – This track takes us back to Helen’s “Khaaghaalik (Toy)” album. This Armenian track stands out oddly against the other tracks in the collection, however, it must be said that its production is one of the most unique on the album. The beat is very R&B but also maintains an air of Armenian sensibility. I loved the traditional instruments over the hard grinding beats of the track (almost goosebump inducing at its use and implementation). This track is very unique, and I mean that in a good way…

9. ESHGH AASOONEH – The album rounds out with another dancefloor filling track. I was glad that she chose a song like this to close off the album… The lush Latin-inspired beat and the use of drums and bass make you want to just get up and move. It is a track that makes you beg for more and after hearing this song I was begging for more, more, more Helen…

This album was a fantastic listen from beginning to end. Being one of my most eagerly anticipated albums of the year, it never let me down for a second. However, after listening to it I was a little saddened. Why you may ask? Well, I was saddened by the fact that this means I will have to wait countless more days and months for new Helen music. I feel that with this album, Helen truly did her homework and she managed to pick on styles and songs that have made her other releases classics and managed to put them all together in this collection and not only make it commercially appealing but also stylistically unique.

Every album that Helen puts out is perfect and timeless and no matter what I am feeling, when I put her on in my iPod, I get lost in her voice, her songs, her soul… She truly is a remarkable artist and I absolutely adore her wholeheartedly. She has the best voice of any female artist around (she really does), in my humble opinion and I am so glad it is still shining strong after all these years with its velvetiness.