Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat // I am Eve // CD

A musical and poetic manifestation from Iranian women

The sisters Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat who in 2007 released the CD ”Songs from a Persian Garden” have during the last years created a new collection of  recorded songs. It has happened in cooperation with Iranian musicians (ney, setar, bass, synth, oud, doudouk, kamancha, daf and other percussion), and with the composer, arranger and producer Atabak Elyasi.

After a fruitful cooperation with Knut Reiersrud and several Norwegian musicians on the “Songs from a Persian Garden” it is interesting to follow up with a project close to 100 percent born and created in Iran. Just the mix and the mastering is done in Norway/Sweden.

The front page of the CD shows a more than 4000 years old woman figure from Iran, and together with the title “I am Eve” and the strong poetic power that fills the whole record, it strikes a tone of woman power which has the weight of thousands of years and makes the oppressing doctrines of present Iran a parenthesis of history.

The music on the record is more meditating and less experimental than “Songs from a Persian Garden”. But it still takes brave steps to renew the Persian tradition, both harmonically and in terms of sound. First of all, it brings power and beauty, and it is carried by fantastic vocal works and delicate and interesting arrangements. 

“I am Eve” has melodic elements born from Persian classical tradition, shaped by the Vahdat sisters. The poems are written by contemporary poets in Iran like Azar Khajavi and Layegh Shir Ali and by classical poets like Rumi and Baba Taher.

Among the musicians are Pasha Hanjani and Amir Eslami (ney), Shervin Mohajer (kamancha), Shahram Gholami (oud), Ali Razmi and Atabak Elyasi (setar), Reza Asgarzadeh (doudouk), Babak Riahipour (bass), Ali Rahimi (daf and percussion).

Who can stop Eve from singing? 

Who can stop the water from running or the wind from blowing?

Since the first woman of creation, women’s voices have been heard wherever mankind has settled, singing songs of love and joy, sorrow and comfort.

The power of their voices is strong. But, to try to control or ban their songs is like opposing the power of the creation itself.

Track list:

1. I am Eve                                                       7:02

2. Mystery                                                       5:00

3. Kurdish song                                              6:08

4. The mirror of the morning wine                6:02

5. Navai                                                           6:36

6. Sorrowful spring                                         6:06

7. King of love                                                      8:43

8. Mirage                                                         5:03

9. Land of love                                                4:22

10. Caravan                                                     4:59