Malek Jamshid (Persian: ملک جمشید, "King Jamshid") is the twelfth studio album by Iranian singer-songwriter and guitarist Kourosh Yaghmaei. The album was released on June 10, 2016 by Now-Again Records in the United States after it was banned in Iran.[2][3] The title refers to the legendary king Jamshid from the Shahnameh.

Malek Jamshid
Malek Jamshid album cover
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 10, 2016 (2016-06-10)
GenrePsychedelic rock
Length44:37[1]
Label
ProducerKourosh Yaghmaei
Kourosh Yaghmaei chronology
Tofang-e daste Noghre
(2001)
Malek Jamshid
(2016)
Rebel
(2024)

Recording and released

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The album was recorded between 2003 and 2006.[3][4] Because of restrictions on his music in the Islamic Republic, Yaghmaei was forced to record the album in an ordinary room in his apartment without professional equipment. Disputes with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to obtain the required permit for releasing the album failed. Malek Jamshid was finally released in 2016 outside Iran by Now-Again Records, a Los Angeles based record label.[3]

Music and lyrics

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Malek Jamshid starts with the opining track titled "Key To Miaei" ("When Do You Come?"), that sounds like the title theme to some imaginary late 1990s American sitcom, Seinfeld-ian digital slap bass and heavy-handed rock guitars.[3] The song "Ghatar" ("Train"), is a combination of Latin rhythm what makes the way for dramatic keyboards and Persian lyrics—like a Persian take on Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas's 1999 hit "Smooth."

Track listing

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All music is composed by Kourosh Yaghmaei

Side one
No.TitleEnglish titleLength
1."Key To Miaei?"When Do You Come?03:20
2."Harfaye Abi"The Blue Words05:41
3."Ghatar"Train05:44
4."Chamedoon"Suitcase03:09
5."Poshte Oun Dar"Behind That Door03:48
6."Panahandeh"Refugee04:58
7."Nowruz"Iranian New Year04:43
8."Safar"Journey05:41
9."Malek Jamshid"King Jamshid07:33

References

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  1. ^ "Album: Malek Jamshid". ReggaeRecord. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kourosh Yaghmaei : The Resisting Psychedelic Rock Icon of Iran". Trip Magazine (1). April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "KOUROSH YAGHAEI's album Malek Jamshid released in the west after censorship in Iran". Now-Again Records. June 10, 2016. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Irfani, Faisal (February 23, 2019). "40 Tahun Revolusi Iran 1979: Geliat Musik Bawah Tanah Iran 40 Tahun Pasca-Revolusi" [40 Years of the 1979 Iranian Revolution: Twisted Iranian Underground Music 40 Years Post-Revolution] (in Indonesian). Retrieved January 21, 2020.
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