Niya Yesh

Axiom Of Choice

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 23, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B00004T9SS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,243 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Music > World Music > Middle East > Iran
  #77 in	Music > World Music > Middle East > Arabic

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Axiom of Choice are based in Los Angeles, but their music springs from the Persian classical music of Iran. "Valeh," a haunting track from their first album, Beyond Denial, was a popular selection on many world-music samplers a few years ago. Iranian born guitarist Ramin Torkian and singer Mamek Khadem were both trained as mathematicians, and that's where the group gets its name. The axiom of choice is a principle stating that the mathematician has the right to choose elements without explanation, and Torkian and Khadem have expanded this theory's freedom into their eclectic musical choices. Eschewing their more high-energy, Middle Eastern grooves in favor of languid moods, Axiom follow up on the sound of "Valeh" on Niya Yesh, which is Farsi for "gnosis." On a custom quarter-tone guitar, Torkian weaves a flamenco-Persian filigree while Khadem's voice creates a wraithlike wail of wordless vocalese on pieces such as "Chaos of Paradise" and "Greener Than God's Dream." "Rain Drops" is a gentle lullaby while "The Calling" is the only track that really kicks into rhythmic gear. Tambouras, cellos, frame drums, kamancheh (spike fiddle), Buddhist chants, and ney flutes create a global chamber music sound on Niya Yesh, all framing Khadem's voice, her dark timbres seeming to rise like heat off the floor of the Persian desert. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, impressive and totally original, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

I have followed Axiom of choice since they gave out their first recording "Beyond Denial". Niya Yesh is a huge leap from the first album which, although exciting and highly original, was nevertheless more raw. On this album, the band has come to a certain maturity. The instrumentation and musicianship is exquisite with a perfect balance of Middle Eastern Persian and Western instruments topped with nostalgic and expressive vocals. The album is very soulful and some songs bring tears to my eyes. Although it conveys a theme, it is still very diverse and well-balanced. The most important thing about it is that you can (you want to) listen to it over and over again.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, January 3, 2001

By	Richard Wells (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I tend to shy away from world music out of fear the grooves will be a little too groovy, and the cultural appropriation infuriating, but if this is what I've been missing, I've been missing alot. I bought this from a friend's "wish list" and she lent it to me. I'm more than pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a trance attack, but instead have found each song to be rich, distinct, and involving. There are so many sounds at play on this CD. Flamenco, American folk, Persian, and ambient street noise beautifully blended. The raindrops on "Raindrops" sound too much like static, but other than that everything works. The vocals are gorgeous, instrumentation superb, and production (except for the above mentioned) near flawless. I don't know if I've become a convert to world music, but I am interested in their previous CD, "Beyond Denial."

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must have!, July 18, 2000

By A Customer

If you like cross-cultural world music, then this CD is for you. Axiom of Choice really offers some of the best music in this style, blending their Persian roots with Indian and Western sounds, the result is magical and deeply-moving. If anything is soul music, this is it! I do not agree with the previous reviewer that the album was done with the new age crowd in mind. It certainly has many gentle moments, and it is definitely better produced than the previous album ("Beyond Denial") which I also love and which I purchased by accident a few years ago. But this recording is also more complete musically and more mature. I have been listening to it over and over and it has not lost one bit of its originality and freshness. I find it to be a work of great beauty and power and I recommend it highly.