SUSSAN DEYHIM, RICHARD HOROWITZDesert Equations: Azax Attra

When it first appeared in 1986, the 'Desert Equations: Azax Attra' albumwas greeted with enthusiasm, awe and disbelief: nobody had doneanything quite like that before, and this dizzying, inspired blend ofPersian tradition, New York avantgarde and electronic music remainsincomparable, powerful and mesmerising to this dayA haunting and futuristic album, it combines the sublime voice of Iranian vocalistSussan Deyhim and the electronic wizardry of US composer Richard Horowitz.'Desert Equations' wonderfully blends the duo's multiple sources, including theirexperiences at the epicentre of New York's early 1980s avantgarde music andtheatre scene, Sussan Deyhim's knowledge of traditional Persian music and itsreverberation in modern Iranian arts, and Richard Horowitz's background in jazz,electronics and Moroccan folk music. This 2021 remastered reissue includesthree previously- unreleased bonus tracks, one included on the LP and two onlyavailable on the CD and digitally, and a rich booklet with photographs and notesrecounting the duo's fascinating life stories.Sussan Deyhim went on to work with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Jah Wobble,Bobby McFerrin, Adrian Sherwood, Ornette Coleman, and renowned visual artistShirin Neshat. Richard Horowitz has collaborated with David Byrne, was theoriginal artistic director of the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira, and has written andrecorded film soundtracks for the likes of Oliver Stone. In April 2021, Deyhim andHorowitz were invited to perform at the first Nobel Prize Summit.