Description
Pre-Revolution Psychedelic Rock from Iran: 1972 - 1979Now-Again Records is proud to present Back from the Brink, the only legitimately licensed collection of the godfather of Iranianpsychedelic rock, Kourosh Yaghmaei. Known within the Iranian diaspora simply by his first name, Kourosh's Pre-Revolution recordingswere thought lost after Islamic fundamentalists took control of Iran. They weren't: Kourosh had protected them - along with keyephemera from the 70's. Their collection here - spread over two CDs, a 3-LP and a 4x7'' box set - bolstered by Kourosh's first personrecollections of Iran's 70s rock scene and its death after the Revolution, tells the story of an immensely talented artist's desire topersevere in the face of terrible adversity.Kourosh Yaghmaei and his brothers Kamran and Kambiz were amongst the few inspired Iranian musicians determined to changeTehran's musical landscape in the late 60's and early 70's. The trio, armed with rented, second-hand instruments and records by TheVentures, The Kinks, The Doors, merged Western garage rock, psychedelia and Iranian folkloric music to create a sound unlike anything that came before them. Later, inspired by the unlikely duo of EltonJohn and James Taylor, Kourosh's music took a sophisticated turn,and he churned out funky, progressive rock that is as imminentlyenjoyable as it is impossible to categorize.His star on the rise was knocked off course by the Revolution, and itsbackdrop of Islamic fundamentalists burning record companies andharassing musicians. But while most Pre-Revolution musicians -including his brothers - fled Iran in 1979, Kourosh stayed, loyal to thecountry of his birth. He has suffered a performance and recording banfor twenty-two out of the last thirty-two years. Yet he remains stoicand resolved to continue bolstering Iranian musical tradition.Kourosh still lives in Tehran and is pleased that his story - and hisglorious 70s recordings - will finally spread the world over. This