An epic modern suite deeply rooted in Iranian musical traditions, Night Silence Desert seeks to unite East and West, past and present, to create a new sound for the country’s future. Composed by multi-instrumentalist Kayhan Kalhor, the album features a stellar ensemble of Iranian folk and classical musicians supporting the soul-stirring melodies of legendary vocalist Mohammad Reza Shadjarian, whose lyrics juxtapose the centuries-old poetry of Baba Taher with contemporary lyrics. This fusionist approach is especially effective on songs like “Saz Va Avaz,” where haunting droning notes that create an air of unrest are offset by Kalhor’s hypnotic solos and Shadjarian’s passionate ode to an enticing woman “whose unmade eyes vie with kohl-rimmed ones.” On instrumental numbers like “Desert Night” and the intro to “Rain,” soloists like santur master Ardavan Kamkar and ney virtuoso Behzad Forouhadi step forward, their dazzling melodic runs thrusting their talents into the spotlight. Together, they help to create a transcendent sound that perfectly evokes the atmosphere implied in the album’s title. – Bret Love