Customer Reviews

East/West Highway: Best Of

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is a compilation of Shahin and Sepher's earlier albums. There are many great pieces on it, though in most of them, the rhythm stands out more than the guitar itself. The melody is very sensual, great for an evening or for a nice cruise in the car. I expected something deeper from them in this last release, but hopefully that will come next from these two excellent artists. For any flamenco fans, it's worth mentioning that this is NOT flamenco, it is beautiful Spanish guitar music that surpasses Liebert, Lopez, Armik and many other famous guitarists. I think Govi fans will like this as well as Encinas fans.

These days you never get a "best of" CD with 18 songs on it, its almost like a double album at the price of one, and it rocks. Every song is delightful, truly transports the listener to another realm. I absolutely LOVE their rendition of Cat Stevens' Wild World in a spanish guitar style setting. I saw the Wild World video on a local cable channel, really well done. Cannot wait for their next release----great job Higher Octave/Virgin!

Saw this group in free concert series and was pleased with live show. Bought this CD and it is fabulous. Cannot get enough of it. Plan to buy many others.

Shahin & Sepehr create a sound that entagles the listener and won't let go, from the first track to the last. The intricate guitar work creates an upbeat atmosphere either perfect for uplifting one's own spirits or to be played while entertaining guests. East/West Highway is sure to please.

I'd never heard of these guys before my daughter-in-law had this
playing on her stereo and I just had to have a copy! This east meets west, exotic, relaxing, thought provoking, and uplifting wonderful music is just what I needed after a long day of work. The "Persian" influence is (come on guys) actually "Iranian",
of course because there is no Persia anymore - it's now Iran. But
I guess the producers didn't want to scare off potential fans that are bigots and Iran or Middle Eastern haters. Personally, I couldn't care whether they're Iranian, Philipino, Dutch, or Martians... the music's great!

More than an hour of this lambent guitar music with no doubt will not allow you to stay indifferent. It will dip you into a whirlpool of the fresh, light rhythms, penetrated by romance and genuine optimism. And the words "guitar music" are not quite correct, because not only Persian tunes are present in the music of the duet, but also you can hear the traditional folk instruments: santur with 72 strings (grandfather of the modern cembalo), percussion (tonbak drum) and shepherd's flute (ney). And everywhere in the melodies of Shahin and Sepehr there are live rhythms, there is taste of celebration. But even those qualities of their work are not the most important ones. The main is that the music is enormously real, natural. These are melodies of life, not of dying, of communication, not of anchoritism. «East / West Highway» is a music of wandering pilgrims, enjoying life, awaiting many new, unexpected meetings with friends and pleasant discoveries. It is a dance caused by overflowing of life.

«East / West Highway» consists of the best compositions of four solo albums of Shahin and Sepehr, released by the studio Higher Octave Music, considered as one of the most interested and biggest companies specialized on smooth jazz, instrumental and new age music. Music of this duet has got already a lot of amateurs all over the world not only due to albums recorded by Shahin and Sepehr, but also by their concert performances. It is interesting that after releasing in 1996 the third album of the duet, «Aria», the musicians took a two-year break and concentrated into solo appearances, making concerts in Europe and America with great success.

The collection of the best compositions of the duet the funs of Shahin and Sepehr will find a pleasant surprise: the musicians have performed their own variation (flamenco style) of the famous «Wild World» of Cat Stevens. Also they included into the album their new runaway passionate melody «Melting Heart».

«East / West Highway» belongs to the music in which West is mixed with East, melting into one cocktail of the new world music, where it turns to be impossible to segregate any private cultural tradition. This is music of the New World, freely expressing and celebrating life; it doesn't care to seem clever or to veil itself with a mystery.

«East / West Highway» is the melodies of open hearts.

Serge Kozlovsky
[...]

I had never heard of Shahin & Sepehr, but am I glad I came across their music. FABULOUS!!! I bought all the CD's available. They're all great, but my favorite is East/ WEst Highway. I even bought 2 CD's of this one. One for the house and one for the car. This music is great for listening, dancing, reading, or whatever you want to do.They are so unique in their sound that I can't wait for their next release.

Shahin and Sepehr have always been talented musicians. Their versions of flamenco guitar have great appeal. Would recommend this collection to anyone interested in noveau flamenco.

I first heard this duo play on an internet radio station and I was amazed at how relaxing, but thought-provoking their music is. I searched a long time to find this CD. All the tracks are equally great; it's difficult to choose a favourite.