Pebbles Vol. 11: Iran Pt. 2, Original Artifacts from the Psychedelic Era

Part two of Pebbles’ look into Persian garage and psychedelia is once again dominated by the psyched out, organ heavy sounds of Tehran’s Golden Ring, one of the first bands in Iran to merge British and American rock’n’roll with Persian modes and scales. Part two also includes music by some of the stars of Iranian psychedelia, like Kouroush, “the Godfather of Iranian psychedelic rock,” and Mehrpooya, with his big-band style “twist, Dokhtare Shab” (though he’s actually better known for his trippier sitar playing, an instrument he’s credited with  introducing to Iranian popular music). “Dance Music” by Penahi is an absolute killer: a scorching garage funk instrumental with nimble, stirring guitar and rumbling rhythms, interrupted only by feverish vocal interjections, tension-building breaks, and an exquisite sax. Hypnotic.