Yadegari showcases the next step in Ghomayshi's artistic career. I thought this project was going to be a remake album (primarily due to its title and the fact that the "Hedieh (Remix)" was released as a single (which was an original song from his album Khabe Baran) but after hearing this project in its entirety, I was pleasantly surprised. This new album consists of 10 tracks (eight new and original pieces and two remixes) and is released through Avang Records (a departure from his former Caltex Records home). 

 

1. YADEGARI: A delicate piano introduction opens up the first and title track of the album, "Yadegari". As the song develops, synth layers slowly roll in underneath and morphs it into an atmospheric pop ballad. Like ominous clouds rolling in and building into a storm of epic proportions, so too does the song, as it seems to grow and build to an inevitable climax in its chorus! The chorus is powerful and showcases the strength that Ghomayshi's voice is capable of as he sings of how memories of a certain someone will not be remaining with him. The song is a perfect combination of delicacy and euphoria, and Ghomayshi's vocals are spot on as he switches from very solemn and gentle in the verses to raw and loud in the chorus that showcase his deep angst and emotion. The song is a very haunting and powerful one and is a great way to open the album! 

 

2. BI TO: The sounds of tiny crickets and the delicate rustle of a wind chime set the scene for "Bi To," a powerful piano ballad. This song serves as the true "ballad" of the album and utilizes a simple formula: a piano and lush orchestral melodies. The song is predominantly the piano and Ghomayshi's vocals, but around the second verse is where the strings come in and pick the song up and bring it to a powerful and thunderous climax. His voice maneuvers effortlessly around the delicate keystrokes of the piano and allows him to really showcase his emotion. It is a breathtakingly beautiful piece and that picks you up and carries you away. 

 

3. BI KHIAL: Up next is "Bi Khial". This piece has a very nostalgic feel to its structure and is very reminiscent of some of his masterwork work during the "Ghessehyeh Gol o Tagarg" and "Havaayeh Khooneh" eras. This song is very heavy on sharp synthesizer beats, which further aids the piece in alluding to its retro and almost 80's electronic sound. The most unique feature of the song comes in the break in the middle where electronic riffs pierce through the music and accompany his loud vocals. 

 

4. FERESHTEH: A lovely female's voice opens up the next track "Fereshteh," a piece about an angel that came from far away lands to visit our beloved Ghomayshi. This song is another fantastic pop ballad that is also heavy on synthesizers, which seem to ripple and undulate around his vocals. The song also mimics some of his earlier work but still manages to sound fresh, especially as it develops into a rock-oriented sound toward its end. The added electric guitar toward the bridge really adds great depth and energy to the song and it works wonderfully with the heavy synth layers. This piece is very retro and 80's in its construct and it works wonderfully! 

 

5. KHAYLI MAMNOON: The album throws us a major curve ball with "Khayli Mamnoon". House and trance lovers rejoice as this song is oozing with everything that makes Hi-NRG music so addictive! This anthem about a lover doing wrong is a powerhouse mélange of pulsing rhythms and melodies. This is the most experimental I have ever heard Ghomayshi in a very long time. The production is phenomenal and is evident in its construction as the song literally feels like an extension of his voice, almost breathing and transforming around his vocal acrobatics. This track is one of my current guilty pleasures because it is a good mix of the old and the new: while the beat is fresh and truly unique, the melody Ghomayshi sings sounds very nostalgic and makes it a great mix. Pure perfection! 

 

6. ALAKI: As the euphoria of the previous track subsides, powerful tribal percussions and a very eerie piano (mixed with an undulating synthesizer melody) open up "Alaki," the first single that was released from the Yadegari album. This track is another pop-ballad, but it manages to break away from the same cookie cutter formula by experimenting with tribal melodies and the heavy use of synthesizer. My favorite part of the song would have to be the piano/synth breaks which add to the rich sound of its production. The way that the synthesizer is intertwined on the piano playing is very vivid in its sound and is almost haunting and ominous. 

 

7. BON BAST: Gentle classic guitars open up "Bon Bast," another piano and percussion driven pop-ballad. This track really takes me back to music's glory days (during the early 90's) due to its nostalgic and almost retro, feel-good production. The added electric guitars brought a nice change to the track's construction, but the its defining moment has to be towards the end where Ghomayshi lets his inner rock star out as the track morphs into a hard-hitting rock number. 

 

8. BI TO (REMIX): Up next is "Bi To (Remix)," the first of two remixes on this album. This track is a new, upbeat spin on the original ballad. While it is a nice remix and is a fine example of how new melodies can breathe life into any track, I felt that the song lost the melancholy and sadness that worked so powerfully and emotively in the original. I felt his pain and I felt his angst in the original but I felt disconnected with him here and felt the message he was trying to relay was too scattered and lost amongst the pulsing beats of the remix. It is a still a great track nonetheless, but I prefer the original much more! 

 

9. KALAAFEH: Ghomayshi's vocals pierce through the haze, and a musical cacophony builds around him as we enter into "Kalaafeh". Immediately the track plunges into another fantastic Hi-NGR affair. The piece effortlessly lifts you away and takes you on a wild, pulsing, and pounding musical journey. The most unique feature of this piece is the pseudo arabesque break right before the chorus. It lets you prepare yourself as the chorus comes crashing down, showcasing the power of the song's production and Ghomayshi's strong vocals! This track is truly an epic one! 

 

10. HEDIEH (REMIX): Up next is "Hedieh (Remix)," the second remix and final track on Ghomayshi's album. Many fans may recognize this instant classic from his golden Khabe Baran album. The original ballad has been given a whole new melody overhaul and brought back for new generations to experience the beauty of one of Ghomayshi's classic and beloved love songs. This track is a great remix and works well. I really appreciate the fact that the song was re-sung as opposed to just remixing the original. Ghomayshi's voice has become much more velvety and rich as he has aged and it is showcased wonderfully here. 

 

Yadegari is another fine example of what this artist is capable of creating. Haunting melodies, touching lyrics, and his signature smoky voice adorn stellar track after stellar track. This artist simply can do no wrong! I am glad that he took a much-needed reprieve from the music world to hone his already near-flawless craft and it really did pay off in the end. I felt that the "classic" Ghomayshi we all know and love was there, but there was some great experimentation to push him in a new creative direction. I personally enjoyed this album from beginning to end and felt each track played off its predecessor wonderfully to create another breathtaking collection. So as we draw the Yadegari chapter to a close, here's to the next Siavash Ghomayshi album... I for one cannot wait!

 

Rating: 5/5 stars