Talagh

Back in 2013 I posted Talagh, a delirious and funky piece of Iranian pop from 1975, sung by Azerbaijani singer Googoosh. She was big in Iran before the revolution and then banned between 1979 and 2000. Israeli artist Alek Lee has gave it a bit of a makeover last year. Still delirious and funky, now with a 2016 edge. Free download. Apparently Talagh was sampled by Kanye West recently too for his own stab at 'the greatest album ever made' (although I think Ian McCulloch bagged that phrase and title back in 1984).

Googoosh

This song is from a cd called Pomegranates: Persian Pop and Funk of the 60s and 70s. It's a slow burning, groovy number with a lovely, ominous keyboard riff and a sultry vocal from Googoosh. I'm no expert on this type of thing but it really is wonderful.

Googoosh is the stage name of Faegheh Atashin, a widely known Iranian superstar (still active today with her own Googoosh Music Academy reality TV show). She was banned from performing after 1979 following the Iranian revolution, her flamboyant style hidden away by the Ayatollahs. She returned in 2000 and has been regaining Middle Eastern superstar status ever since.

Talagh