The album, People Of The Wind, was a collaboration between UK guitarist G.T. Moore and Iranian writer / singer / actress, Shusha Guppy. The music was made to accompany Guppy’s documentary of the same name, which follows the nomadic, seasonal migrations of the Bakhtiari tribe as they herd their livestock between the south west Iran’s mountains and valleys.

Originally released in 1976, the set is a mix of instrumentals and songs. Focusing on traditional instruments and melodies, but sometimes fusing them with Western rock. Baroun-Barouneh comes across like kosmische folk. A celebratory, ceremonial dance, led by woodwinds and reed-like, squeezebox-like keys. Stars In Heaven, built from ripples of ringing chimes and acoustic strumming is a perfect piece of Persian pop, and something that you might expect to crop up in an Adam Curtis video essay. Its innocent presence contrasting an evil, duplicitous political plot. Lor Bacheh is perkier still, and develops into dervish whirl of racing tribal drums and crashing gongs. Aziz Joun is a haunting, emotional acapella ballad, while Silver Gun (Tofang-E-Noqreh) – once covered by Robert Palmer – is positively prayer-like. 

Of the instrumentals, Thanksgiving is a standout where Moore’s sensitive, acoustic playing shifts between African blues and Spanish picking. The Lions Graves too is a highlight. Moore’s groovy, vibrato’d guitar moving amongst a snaking synth and scratched and struck percussion. A brief breakdown then opening the door(s) to a Robbie Krieger-esque psychedelic 6-string raga, both west and south Asian in flavour. 

People Of The Wind can be purchased directly from Partial Records’ new offshoot, Entire Records.