The Child Within - Aldoush & the Human Exchange

ALBUM INSERTS:

Item # CD 1001-2, CA 1001-4

Winner of the San Francisco Weekly 1993 Wammies Award - Best World Music album of the year.

Pictures of Performances and More Information

Engineer: Bob Hodas

Aldoush & the Human Exchange create an exotic new sound, combining ancient Iranian village music with Persian lyrics written in contemporary poetic forms. Their arrangements blend traditional Iranian classical folk melodies and rhythms with Western harmonies rooted in jazz and classical styles. Never before has Persian music been brought to the West with such creativity and innovation- winner of the San Francisco Weekly 1993 Wammies Award for best World Music album of the year, this music is a must for multiculturalists and world music enthusiasts alike. Listen and be enchanted. "...Resoundingly entrancing" says BAM Magazine. "...Fusion...in favor of ensemble fluidity, which has a seductive and serpentine appeal" - SF Bay Guardian

In 1987 I returned home. Upon entering Iran I became a child within a dreamland. I was drenched in a waterfall of beautiful music and culture that had been invisible to me during my youth. A myriad of positive changes occurred while I was there, and my musical perspective changed dramatically after my visit.

I then moved to Northern California, and my changing vision began to coalesce and expand. I was finally living in an area that was a hotbed for a growing world music scene and contained the musicians who could be sympathetic to my artistic vision, and I formed the Human Exchange.

This album is the result of my present awareness of both Persian and Western styles of music, and working towards bringing these vastly different cultures together has been my goal. I dedicate this record to the children of the world- our greatest treasure.

Many thanks go to my family, particularly my sister Clara, and to all my friends for their support. Special thanks to Koorosh Angali whose efforts during the production of this album and many years of friendship have brought me closer to my true culture. Thanks to Baback Etminani and Mark Newstetter who invented and hand-crafted the Nazanin. My deepest appreciation goes out to Ahmadreza Nabizadeh who introduced me to Persian folk music; finally, thanks to X DOT 25 Music for their enthusiasm and support.... Aldoush

Aldoush and Koroosh Angali

Produced by ALDOUSH ALPANIAN
Executive Producers: X DOT 25 Music

All English interpretations of lyrics by Koorosh Angali
Composed, Arranged, and Produced by Aldoush Alpanian
Lyrics by Koorosh Angali except "Juicy Pomegranate" by Scott Hill

Aldoush Alpanian: Lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, tamburak, nazanin
Scott Hill: Soprano saxophone, clarinet, backing vocals
Jeff Obee: Six-string fretless bass, synthesizer, synth programming
Maryam Katouli, Sara Sultan, and Kathryn Khavari: Children's choir
Joe Brigandi: Percussion
Shahram Kazemi: Tumbak, Daf

Recorded at Studio D, Sausalito, CA in April through July 1992 Additional recording at Coast Recorders, San Francisco, and Music Annex, Menlo Park, CA
Mixed by Bob Hodas
Recording Engineer: Ron Rigler
Assistant Engineer: Larry Brewer
Mastering Engineer: Paul Stubblebine Mastered at Rocket Lab, San Francisco, CA
Art direction, cover illustration, Design and computer manipulations: Koorosh Angali
Computer scanning: Jayce Farahmand

Yonder in the wheat fields, gold nuggets of grain
Have sprouted gracefully in the shimmering plain
A vow is in order- these fields are for keeps
The offspring of the human should know that prosperity reaps
He who sows the seeds of love

Our forefathers left this land in our trust
Safeguard it restlessly against evil we must
This precious, precious land is the temple of God,
Zoroaster, Cyrus, Parthian, and Mad(1)

Devil would try his best from time to time
O'er it to cast a wicked spell
Wishing for this lovely land to be,
The terrible dungeon of the scornful Hell

Against all this profanity With all our soul and might
Joyfully and gracefully, we must ne'er cease our fight
Find the Prince of Love we must, O' we must
Leave this cherished land in his trust

Strut in the fields, then, here and there
Scatter seeds of joy and not despair
We must not be lazy, deplorable, or weary
Whilst we can be alive and prosper merrily

Sweet smell of violets streams through the town
Whilst maiden of delight, with her Narcissus crown
Brings joy in a salver to effuse in our hearts
Girls dance in the streets chanting songs of love
Children play with their rattles; rejoice their lusty chests Grandmothers, in their living rooms, entertain their guests
Girls in groups of many roam into the pastoral scene
Recite the ritual of Seez-dah(2), making ties of grass and greens
Wishing to be a bride in this year with such dreams

Watching all this panorama would fill your eyes with tears
Not of sorrow, but of joy- the spring is here.

Press on the skin and the juices within
Will explode in your mouth with amorous sweetness and life

Surrender the senses to red spheres of splendor
They hang from the tree- the round, juicy pomegranates

Taste of life, a wine from the seeds of the sun
A treasure of mine for you

Love (Amoon Az Dast-e Eshgh)

Enter, enter, oh you seeker
Welcome, welcome to the flicker
Sparks of rejoicing shimmer in this air
Flakes of love shower on your thirsty flair

Aldoush

Koorosh Angali

Aldoush and the Kid Singers

Scott Hill

Joe Brigandi

Jeff Obee

Shahram Kazemi